Revisiting global cognitive and functional state 13 years after a clinical trial of lithium for mild cognitive impairment

Author(s)

Damiano, Rodolfo Furlan ; Loureiro, Julia Cunha ; Pais, Marcos Vasconcelos ; Pereira, Rodrigo Furtado ; Corradi, Marina de Menezes ; Di Santi, Talita ; Bezerra, Gustavo Antonio Marcolongo ; Radanovic, Marcia ; Talib, Leda Leme ; Forlenza, Orestes Vicente

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria; v. 45, n. 1, p. 4-pg., 2023-01-01.

Abstract

Objectives: To re-evaluate a sample of older adults enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of lithium for amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) after 11 to 15 years, re-assessing their current (or last available) global cognitive and functional state.Methods: We recalled all former participants of the Lithium-MCI trial conducted by our group between 2009 and 2012 to perform a single-blinded, cross-sectional evaluation of their global clinical state to compare the long-term outcome of those who received lithium vs. those who received placebo.Results: Of the original sample (n=61), we were able to reach 36 participants (59% of retention), of whom 22 had previously received lithium (61% of the recall sample) and 14 (39%) had received placebo. Since 30.5% of the recalled sample was deceased, psychometric data were collected only for 69.5% of the participants. We found statistically significant differences in current mean Mini Mental State Examination score according to previous treatment group (25.5 [SD, 5.3] vs. 18.3 [SD, 10.9], p = 0.04). The lithium group also had better performance in the phonemic Verbal Fluency Test than the control group (34.4 [SD, 14.4] vs. 11.6 [SD, 10.10], p o 0.001). Differences in these measures also had large effect sizes, as shown by Cohen's d values of 0.92 and 1.78, respectively.Conclusion: This data set suggests that older adults with amnestic MCI who had been treated with lithium during a previous randomized controlled trial had a better long-term global cognitive outcome than those from a matched sample who did not receive the intervention. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/08507-3 - Neuroprotective effect of lithium in participants at risk for Alzheimer's Disease
• Grantee: Orestes Vicente Forlenza
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/50873-3 - INCT 2014: National Institute of Biomarkers in Neuropsychiatry
• Grantee: Wagner Farid Gattaz
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants