Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2025

Assay for Phosphorylation and Microtubule Binding Along with Localization of Tau Protein in Colorectal Cancer Cells
Published on: October 10, 2017
Potential mechanisms underlying lithium treatment for Alzheimer's disease and COVID-19
H-F Wei1, S Anchipolovsky, R Vera
1Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Huafeng.wei@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
Abstract:
Disruption of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis plays an important role as an upstream pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and correction of Ca2+ dysregulation has been increasingly proposed as a target of future effective disease-modified drugs for treating AD. Calcium dysregulation is also an upstream pathology for the COVID-19 virus SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication, leading to host cell damage. Clinically available drugs that can inhibit the disturbed intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis have been repurposed to treat COVID-19 patients. This narrative review aims at exploring the underlying mechanism by which lithium, a first line drug for the treatment of bipolar disorder, inhibits Ca2+ dysregulation and associated downstream pathology in both AD and COVID-19. It is suggested that lithium can be repurposed to treat AD patients, especially those afflicted with COVID-19.
Related Concept Videos
Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
Long-term Depression
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over...
Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview
Long-term Potentiation
Hebbian LTP
LTP can occur when...
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism

