Three brain chemicals — norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine — are involved in psychiatric disorders. Norepinephrine and serotonin are linked to mood disorders, such as depression and BPAD.
The chemicals responsible for controlling the brain's functions are called neurotransmitters, and include noradrenaline, serotonin and dopamine. There's some evidence that if there's an imbalance in the levels of 1 or more neurotransmitters, a person may develop some symptoms of bipolar disorder.
In bipolar depression imaging studies show increased dopamine transporter levels, but changes in other aspects of dopaminergic function are inconsistent.
Research shows bipolar disorder may damage the brain over time. Experts think it's because you slowly lose amino acids. They help build the proteins that make up the insulation around your neurons.
Can bipolar disorder cause psychosocial disability? Absolutely. In fact, bipolar disorder is considered to be one of the few mental health conditions that is highly likely to cause a significant and long-term psychosocial disability.
Bipolar disorder may reduce gray matter volume
Gray matter contributes in some way to every aspect of human life. A 2016 meta-analysis found a significantly lower volume of gray matter in the brains of people with bipolar disorder compared with those of people without the condition.
No two people with bipolar disorder share the same thoughts or experiences, but there are some common thought patterns among most folks who have it. This includes cyclical thinking, manic and/or depressive episodes, suicidal ideation, and psychosis.
In some studies studying the parental effects in bipolar disorder, the father's effect is also reported. In a study conducted with a large sample, the prevalence of disease was found to be higher in children of fathers with bipolar disorder than in the children of mothers with bipolar disorder (15).
They found that 12 risk genes for bipolar disorder were also linked to intelligence. In 75 % of these genes, bipolar disorder risk was associated with higher intelligence. In schizophrenia, there was also a genetic overlap with intelligence, but a higher proportion of the genes was associated with cognitive impairment.
What Is a Bipolar Personality Disorder? Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depressive disorder, is a type of personality disorder where mood swings can range from extreme highs to extreme lows. The two sides of bipolar disorders are called mania (extreme high) and depressive (extreme low).
Bipolar disorder seems to often run in families and there appears to be a genetic part to this mood disorder. There is also growing evidence that environment and lifestyle issues have an effect on the disorder's severity.
Bipolar disorder can be confused with other mental health conditions, such as ADHD or 'unipolar' depression.
Genes. Bipolar disorder often runs in families, and research suggests this is mostly explained by heredity—people with certain genes are more likely to develop bipolar disorder than others. Many genes are involved, and no one gene can cause the disorder.
Scientists have suggested that some people with bipolar disorder experience memory problems due to changes in the brain. These could involve changes in: The prefrontal cortex, which plays a role in planning, attention, problem-solving, and memory, among other functions.
An episode of mania may impact your psychomotor skills, reasoning, and working memory. Sometimes, you may also experience psychosis. But research shows that despite these neurocognitive impairments, intelligence in people with bipolar disorder is not impacted by the onset of the condition.
The peak onset of symptoms generally occurs between 20 and 40 years of age. This average peak does not mean someone with a late onset will not peak later in life.
However, these conditions are distinct from one another, and they do not always co-occur. While bipolar disorder cannot develop into schizophrenia, it's possible to experience symptoms of both. Before you consult a mental health professional, here are a few things you should know about the two conditions.
The life expectancy for someone with bipolar disorder is approximately 67 years old.
The NDIS funds several critical services for people with Bipolar Disorder.
Am I eligible for DES? You might be eligible for DES if you're: living with a mental health condition, treated illness, injury or disability that makes it difficult to find and keep a job.
You can get bipolar disability in the form of SSI benefits if you meet the medical criteria outlined by the SSA. In order to get SSI benefits for bipolar disorder, you need to meet the financial requirements outlined by the SSA.