Bipolar Disorder Linked to Shrinking of Brain

(July 24, 2007) -- People with bipolar disorder - also known as manic depression - suffer from an accelerated shrinking of their brains, researchers at Edinburgh University have discovered.

The study shows for the first time that bipolar disorder, a condition characterised by periods of depression and periods of mania, is associated with a reduction in brain tissue and proves that the changes get progressively worse with each relapse.

The findings, which have been published in the Journal of Biological Psychiatry, show that the loss of grey matter tissue is concentrated in areas of the brain which control memory, face recognition and co-ordination.

Dr Andrew McIntosh, senior lecturer in psychiatry and lead researcher, said: "For the first time, we have shown that as people with bipolar disorder get older, a small amount of tissue is lost in parts of the brain that are associated with memory and the coordination of thoughts and actions.

"The amount that's lost is greater in people with multiple episodes of illness and can cause a decline in mental ability."

The disorder is estimated to affect 500,000 people in the UK.

Source: scotsman.com

Last updated: 07/07

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