Study finds lithium has no effect on ALS patients

LONDON – Lithium doesn’t help patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, contrary to previous study results, new research says.

In the first trial to scientifically assess whether lithium works for ALS, doctors found it had no effect – and stopped the study early because it seemed futile. The results were published online today in the medical journal Lancet Neurology.

American and Canadian doctors enrolled 84 patients with Lou Gehrig’s disease into their study across both countries. About half the patients got lithium and riluzole, the standard drug used for the disease. The other half got riluzole plus placebo pills.

After nearly six months, researchers didn’t see any difference: 22 of the 40 patients in the lithium group had gotten worse versus 20 of 44 patients in the placebo group. Patients on lithium were more likely to have fallen and suffered back pain. The study was funded by the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the ALS Association and the ALS Society of Canada.

“There’s no rush for patients to take lithium,” said Dr. Swati Aggarwal, a neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and the study’s lead researcher. “It clearly does not have a big effect.”

Lou Gehrig’s disease attacks the brain and spinal cord. It affects about 30,000 Americans. Riluzole is the only drug approved for the disease, and can sometimes slow progression. Most patients live only a few years after being diagnosed.