Researchers at the Harvard Medical School in Boston argue that, based on a study in mice, lithium could at some point help in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

The research team found that lithium naturally appears in the human brain and has a protective effect, shielding it from memory damage, the CBS notes. The researchers found that lithium loss in the brain could be the first sign of the disease.

Harvard’s team found that mice saw improvement in their memory when their lithium levels increased.

According to the researchers, this suggests that one day, lithium could be used to treat Alzheimer’s in humans. It is already used to treat people with bipolar disorder.

“I think these new findings indicate a new possible mechanism for Alzheimer’s disease and create hopes for a new therapeutic approach,” said Dr. Bruce Yankner, a professor of genetics and neurology at Harvard Medical School.

Only mice have been done so far the tests with lithium. It is not clear whether the addition of lithium to the human body would have the same effect.

“We must first see what will happen to a man. Therefore, I do not recommend that people go to pick up a study based on the study, “Yankner said. “Our hope is that they will start early clinical trials in the not too far future,” he added.