27 February 2008. The drug lithium is usually prescribed to
patients with bipolar disorder. But evidence is growing that it
might help with some neurodegenerative diseases as well,
particularly the rapid and devastating Lou Gehrig's disease,
known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS, which attacks
motor neurons, usually leads to death within 4-6 years and is
diagnosed in 5,600 Americans a year, according to the ALS
Association. While physical therapy and the only FDA-approved
drug, a form of riluzole, sometimes slow the progression of
symptoms, a study published online on February 4 in the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science indicates that
lithium may slow the disease. Despite its being a small pilot
study, ALS patients have been abuzz about it on the Internet and
some are deciding to take lithium without waiting for further
studies. Conducted by Francesco Fornai, Antonio Paparelli, and
colleagues at the University of Pisa and at institutions in
Pozzilli, Rome, and Novara, the study suggest