Lithium and long-term cognitive outcomes in bipolar disorder and early dementia: a systematic review.

Abstract

Cognitive impairment is a major determinant of disability in bipolar disorder (BD) and a defining feature of both mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Lithium, a first-line maintenance treatment for BD, is implicated in neuroprotective mechanisms including glycogen synthase kinase-3β inhibition, amyloid and tau modulation, and neurogenesis promotion. The overarching aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the long-term effects of lithium on cognition across BD, MCI, and early-to-moderate AD using randomized controlled trial (RCT) evidence. Online databases were searched from inception through May 2025 for RCTs reporting lithium's effect on cognitive outcomes in BD, MCI, or early-to-moderate AD with ≥8 weeks of follow-up. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool. Eight RCTs met the inclusion criteria, ranging from 10 weeks to 3 years in duration. Across four BD trials, lithium did not exhibit consistent improvement or worsening on composite cognitive scores. Three of four MCI/AD trials reported attenuated global cognitive deterioration with low-dose lithium, especially when exposure was ≥12 months. Methodological limitations included small sample sizes, exploratory endpoints, and variable measures for cognitive function as well as lithium strategies. Lithium demonstrates preliminary signals of slower cognitive decline in MCI/AD. Available evidence suggests lithium has neutral effects on cognitive impairment in BD. Future adequately powered RCTs with cognition as a primary endpoint, functional measures, and biomarker outcomes are warranted to clarify lithium's role as a maintenance treatment in psychiatric disorders and its potential neuroprotective effects in neurodegenerative diseases.