Summary
Nutritional therapist Beverly Meyer discusses two key supplements for memory and Alzheimer's prevention: choline bitartrate and lithium orotate. She emphasizes the importance of using the correct forms — choline bitartrate (not phosphatidylcholine) for acetylcholine production and lithium orotate (not carbonate) for brain protection. Beverly covers recent mouse studies showing lithium orotate may prevent and reverse amyloid plaques and tau tangles, the two hallmarks of Alzheimer's. She recommends 5-30mg of lithium orotate daily (one to six 5mg tablets) taken with food long-term, noting it is inexpensive, has no noticeable side effects, and should be considered a lifelong supplement. The episode also explains that 90% of Americans may be choline-deficient, provides detailed food sources of choline (liver, ocean fish, egg yolks, beef), and discusses the connection between high-sugar diets and Alzheimer's as diabetes of the brain.
Key Points
- Lithium orotate is the correct form for brain protection — lithium carbonate showed limited results until researchers tried orotate
- Mouse studies show lithium orotate may prevent and reverse amyloid plaques and tau tangles in Alzheimer's
- Recommended dosing: 5-30mg daily (1-6 tablets of 5mg), taken with food, long-term
- Lithium orotate has no noticeable side effects and is inexpensive — a lifelong supplement
- Choline bitartrate is the correct form for acetylcholine production — not phosphatidylcholine
- 90% of Americans may be deficient in choline, essential for memory and cognitive function
- Best choline food sources: liver (359mg/3oz), ocean fish (185mg), egg yolks (170mg each), beef (115mg/3oz)
- Alzheimer's is increasingly linked to blood sugar dysregulation — referred to as diabetes of the brain
Key Moments
Lithium orotate breakthroughs for Alzheimer's plaques and tangles
Beverly explains that studies showed limited results with lithium carbonate until researchers tried lithium orotate, which produced breakthroughs in reversing cognitive decline in mice maze tests and reducing amyloid and tau pathology on brain scans.
"the mice studies have shown reversal of cognitive decline in maze running and then reduction in the amyloid, beta, and tau images when they're doing brain scans using lithium orotate"
Lithium orotate dosing protocol for brain health
Beverly recommends 1-6 tablets of 5mg lithium orotate daily in divided doses with food as a long-term supplement. She suggests starting with one a day for prevention and gradually increasing the dose if cognitive symptoms emerge.
"one to six a day in divided doses with food long term. So you're not going to feel the lithium orotate. You don't feel it. it's just doing its job"
Lithium sources and mineral hot springs connection
Beverly explains that lithium is not readily found in food unlike other minerals, with mineral hot springs being the most famous natural source. She notes that the mineral is absorbed through the skin in hot water, connecting the ancient tradition of mineral spring bathing to modern lithium supplementation.
"It's just not a food mineral. The most common and famous way to get lithium is in mineral hot springs. This is why mineral hot springs are..."
