Low Dose Lithium Treatment of Behavioral Complications in Alzheimer's Disease: Lit-AD Randomized Clinical Trial

•What is the primary question addressed by this study?The main goal was to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of low-dose lithium to treat agitation in Alzheimer's disease (AD).•What is the main finding of this study?In 77 patients with AD and agitation randomized to lithium or placebo in a four-site study, lithium was not significantly superior to placebo in treating agitation/aggression but demonstrated excellent safety. Compared to patients who received placebo, patients who received lithium showed greater improvement in Clinical Global Impression scores and greater improvement in patients with high Young Mania Rating Scale scores.•What is the meaning of the finding?Low-dose lithium was not efficacious in treating agitation in AD but was associated with global clinical improvement, reduction in behavioral symptoms that overlap with mania, and excellent safety.