Lithium to Prevent Dementia: A review and call to action

Title : Lithium to Prevent Dementia: A review and call to action

Abstract:

Lithium is an agent with established neuroprotective qualities, considerable epidemiological evidence supporting its use as a dementia prophylactic, and was strongly debated to be part of the UK’s national dementia strategy. Yet it has failed to enter regular clinical use for this purpose – not for lack of evidence, but rather arguably for saturation of poor quality evidence and aborted peripheral clinical trials. This presentation presents a review of the story of lithium’s almost rise to fame, and argues for a fresh approach.

Biography:

Dr Neil Jeyasingam is a psychogeriatrician and former Maudsley Research Scholar. He holds a dual masters in health administration and psychiatry, and has a special interest in electroconvulsive therapy. A senior clinical lecturer with Sydney University, He has 42 published papers. His areas of interest are phenomenology, philosophy, psychotherapy, personality disorders.