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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Netch on April 23, 2009, at 6:27:04
"Lithium has been established for more than 50 years as one of the most effective treatments for bipolar mood disorder.
However, scientists have never been entirely sure exactly how it operates in the human brain.
Now, new research from the School of Biosciences suggests a mechanism for how Lithium works, opening the door for potentially more effective treatments.
Laboratory tests on cells have shown that Lithium affects a molecule called PIP3 that is important in controlling brain cell signalling. Lithium suppresses the production of inositol, a simple sugar from which PIP3 is made.
Lithium inhibits inositol monophosphatase (IMPase) an enzyme required for making inositol. Importantly, this research shows that increasing the amount of IMPase causes higher levels of PIP3. This can then be reduced by lithium treatment.
A Dictyostelium cell, the amoeba on which some of the research was conducted.
High levels of IMPA2, a gene for a variant of IMPase, has previously been linked to bipolar mood disorder. This new result suggests that Lithium could counteract the changes in IMPA2.Professor Adrian Harwood of Cardiff School of Biosciences, who led the research, said: We still cannot say definitively how Lithium can help stabilise bipolar disorder. However, our research does suggest a possible pathway for its operation. By better understanding Lithium, we can learn about the genetics of bipolar disorder and develop more potent and selective drugs.
Further, altered PIP3 signalling is linked to other disorders, including epilepsy and autism, so this well established drug could be used to treat other conditions. Research into Lithium could become very important over the next few years.
Lithium is currently under clinical trial for the treatment of neurogenerative disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
The research, funded by the Wellcome Trust, is published in the journal Disease Models and Mechanisms."
http://www.cf.ac.uk/news/articles/lithium-and-the-brain.html
Posted by Phillipa on April 23, 2009, at 11:01:32
In reply to Mechanism for how Lithium works, posted by Netch on April 23, 2009, at 6:27:04
Lithium for lou Gerhigs Disease now that reminds me of the mineral baths in Austria. Phillipa
Posted by linkadge on April 23, 2009, at 12:17:23
In reply to Mechanism for how Lithium works, posted by Netch on April 23, 2009, at 6:27:04
This is new research on an old target.
Linkadge
Posted by fattoush on April 29, 2009, at 7:05:36
In reply to Re: Mechanism for how Lithium works, posted by linkadge on April 23, 2009, at 12:17:23
Lithium is the only thing that works for me and, though I can't go on high enough dose to not be depressed anymore, it keeps me from killing myself. If they came up with something new as a result of this study, I won't take it. I'd always prefer something that's been tested for years than having something be tested on me.
Posted by desolationrower on April 30, 2009, at 0:41:39
In reply to Re: Mechanism for how Lithium works, posted by fattoush on April 29, 2009, at 7:05:36
> Lithium is the only thing that works for me and, though I can't go on high enough dose to not be depressed anymore, it keeps me from killing myself. If they came up with something new as a result of this study, I won't take it. I'd always prefer something that's been tested for years than having something be tested on me.
hm, lithium seems to cause hair loss. i've hoped(?) that its because of thyroid, because every other mechanism that is relevant to hair follicles seems to be beneficial, not a negative, so its a bit puzzling.
-d/r
Posted by fattoush on April 30, 2009, at 6:01:00
In reply to Re: Mechanism for how Lithium works, posted by desolationrower on April 30, 2009, at 0:41:39
I do have hypothyroidism, but Lithium might add on to the hair loss. It also gives me awful acne. Those are side effects I have to live with.
What I could not live with is akathisia and headaches, something a huge number of drugs gave me.
Also, I got hair loss on Depakote and Lamictal too.
This is the end of the thread.
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