About this video

• Video Title: #1 Trace Mineral to Activate Autophagy in the Brain? Why I Skip Lithium
• Channel: Wellness Messiah with Rimon
• Speakers: Rimon
• Duration: 21:27

Overview

This video discusses the potential benefits and risks of lithium supplementation, particularly concerning its effects on longevity, brain health, and mental well-being. The speaker examines scientific research, including human epidemiological studies and animal experiments, to evaluate whether lithium truly slows aging or primarily impacts mental health and reduces preventable deaths. The discussion also covers appropriate dosages and the importance of considering risk versus benefit for individual supplementation.

Key takeaways

• Lithium and Longevity: While some human studies show reduced mortality in populations with higher lithium levels in their water supply, evidence for lithium extending lifespan in mammals is inconclusive.
• Autophagy and Brain Health: Lithium may activate autophagy in the brain, a process that recycles damaged proteins and is linked to rejuvenation. It also inhibits the GSK3 enzyme, which restrains autophagy.
• Mental Health Benefits: Lithium is a proven mood stabilizer and appears to reduce suicide rates, crime, and other accidental deaths, suggesting its primary benefit might be in public health and mental well-being rather than directly slowing biological aging.
• Dosage is Crucial: The effective and safe dosage of lithium is critical. Low doses found naturally in water (0.05-0.3 mg/day) show positive correlations with reduced mortality, while higher doses or excessive inhibition of GSK3 could have negative effects.
• Individual Risk vs. Benefit: The decision to supplement with lithium should be based on an individual's risk versus benefit assessment, with a strong emphasis on consulting a doctor, especially for those with existing mental health concerns or over the age of 60.

According to the video, potential benefits of lithium for brain health and longevity include:

• Activating Autophagy in the Brain: Lithium may help activate autophagy, a cellular process that recycles damaged proteins, which is linked to rejuvenation and potentially extends lifespan.
• Neurological Protection: It is suggested that lithium could offer neurological protection.
• Inhibiting GSK3 Enzyme: Lithium inhibits the GSK3 enzyme (alpha and beta), which is implicated in aging and neurological diseases. By doing so, it can indirectly activate autophagy, a process beneficial for longevity.
• Reducing Alzheimer's Risk: The inhibition of GSK3 by lithium is noted as important because this enzyme is associated with neurological diseases, and its activity increases with age. This suggests a potential role in protecting against age-related cognitive decline.
• Improved Motor Performance and Kidney Health in Mice: While lifespan was not extended, studies in mice showed that lithium mildly improved motor performance, body weight composition, glucose tolerance, and kidney pathology during aging, possibly due to its effects on the brain and kidneys.
• Reduced Mortality in Humans: Epidemiological studies in Japan and Texas indicated that higher levels of lithium in drinking water were associated with significantly lower all-cause mortality and fewer suicides. This suggests a potential longevity benefit at the population level, although the mechanism might be related to mental health rather than direct anti-aging.

The video suggests that the safe and effective dosage range for lithium, based on naturally occurring levels in water supplies that showed positive results, is between 0.05 mg to 0.3 mg of elemental lithium per day.

It is important to be cautious with higher doses of lithium for several reasons:

• Reversal of Benefits: Studies in animals have shown that higher doses can not only fail to extend lifespan but can actually accelerate death.
• Negative Side Effects: Taking too much lithium can lead to negative side effects. Specifically, it can excessively inhibit the GSK3 enzyme, which might have detrimental consequences.
• Lack of Long-Term Data: While lower doses appear safe and effective based on human data from water supplies, there is less certainty about the long-term effects of higher supplemental doses over many years.
• Brian Johnson's Dosage: The speaker points out that Brian Johnson takes 1 mg of lithium per day, which is already about three times the amount found in effective water supplies. The speaker suggests that even this dose might be higher than necessary and advises considering even lower doses or cycling to mitigate potential risks.