Natural lithium isotope variations in serum after lithium administration as a novel biomarker for differentiating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

ABSTRACT: Accurate differentiation of schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) is crucial for effective clinical management. However, current diagnostic methods, which rely heavily on subjective assessments, are prone to high rates of misdiagnosis. This study pioneers the investigation of natural variations in lithium (Li) isotopes as potential biomarkers for differentiating BD and SZ. We identified significant and distinct variations in the isotopic compositions of Li in serum (δ⁷Li_serum) of SZ patients relative to BD patients and health controls. Furthermore, we established a machine learning model that achieved a remarkable 100% accuracy in distinguishing between SZ and BD patients based on δ⁷Li_serum fingerprints and concentrations of biologically r

SUBMITTER: Dong J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12501255 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature