Four weeks of treatment with lithium, a drug commonly used for the treatment of bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness), increases gray matter volume in the human brain, according to a study by Wayne State University School of Medicine researchers published this week in The Lancet.
The findings suggest mood stabilizers, such as lithium and valproate, also may have future implications for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, said Gregory Moore, PhD, director of the Brain Imaging Research Division of WSU’s School of Medicine.
“If one can prevent neurons from dying or even increase the number or size of neurons in the brain after there has been some neuronal degeneration, one could potentially slow down, halt or even reverse some of the effects of these devastating diseases,” Dr. Moore said. “Our study’s findings indicate that lithium may have these beneficial effects in the human brain and suggest that trials in patients with neurodegenerative disorders may be warranted.”
This is the first time a drug has been proven to increase gray matter in the human brain. Several previous basic science studies have shown that neurons in cell cultures and in mouse and rat brains can increase in size and number when exposed to certain medications. It now appears that these studies are of relevance for humans.
“The findings are striking and will likely have a significant impact on the field of psychiatry, as well as neurology and neurosurgery,” said Thomas Uhde, MD, associate dean for research and graduate programs. “This study is an outstanding demonstration of the value of WSU School of Medicine's translational research approach bringing key findings in molecular neuroscience from the bench-top to the patient bedside.”
Ten subjects diagnosed with bipolar disorder were studied using three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (3D MRI) before they were medicated and then again after four weeks of treatment with lithium. The later brain scans revealed that gray matter volume was significantly increased compared to the earlier scans.
Dr. Moore along with Husseini Manji, MD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences, and their colleagues are now investigating specific sub-regions of the brain to determine where the most significant changes are occurring.
The study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the State of Michigan (Joe Young Sr. Research Fund), the Stanley Foundation and the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Affectiv