New Study: People with This Psychological Trait Could Be More Vulnerable to Dementia

Bipolar mood disorder can be disorienting for the person experiencing it, as well as for the people close to them. Previously, we’ve explained that bipolar disorder is “a biochemical, genetic and environmental mood disorder that includes episodes of mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs.”

Bipolar disorder, which can be diagnosed as either type 1 or type 2, affects approximately 40 million people worldwide, according to the World Heath Organization (WHO). Some common signs or symptoms of bipolar disorder include:

• Sudden and severe changes in mood
• Increased impulsivity or risk-taking behavior
• Rapid speech and increased energy
• In severe manic episodes, psychosis

Get The Healthy by Reader’s Digest newsletter

Researchers at the Oita University Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Neuropsychiatry in Japan reviewed 39 study manuscripts—19 focused on dementia and 20 on bipolar disorder—to investigate any potential genetic association between the two conditions. Their findings, published in Frontiers in Psychiatry in August 2024, suggest there is reason to believe they could, in fact, be connected. “Bipolar disorder may be regarded as a neuro-progressive disorder in which repeated mood episodes may lead to cognitive decline and dementia development,” they explained, nodding to one possible way bipolar disorder may show some causal effect on dementia development.

Additionally, though their analysis the researchers discovered six genes—CACNA1C, GABBR2, SCN2A, CTSH, MSRA and SH3PXD2A—that were found in patients who’d been diagnosed with either bipolar disorder or dementia. They also observed that someone with a history of bipolar disorder had a significantly increased risk for dementia.

Almost 10 million new cases of dementia are diagnosed every year, and an estimated 55 million people worldwide have this cognitive condition. Common symptoms of dementia include:

• Forgetting recent events or information
• Having difficulty coming up with the right words
• Experiencing a change in mood, behavior or interests

The neuropsychiatrists conducting the review suggested that further genetic studies could provide more insight into the role that genes play in people with bipolar disorder and how it may affect cognitive decline and dementia.

With stressful times affecting all of our moods, this may be a good reminder for all of us to go gentle on our brains with healthy nutrition, gentle physical activity, and as much as possible, quality sleep.

For more wellness updates, subscribe to The Healthy by Reader’s Digest newsletter and follow The Healthy on Facebook and Instagram. Keep reading:

• “Here’s How I Knew I Had Bipolar Disorder”: A Patient’s Story with a Doctor’s Insights

• New Study: If You Notice This When You Walk, It Could Be a Sign of Dementia

• 8 Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder You Might Not Know

• Want To Reduce Your Dementia Risk? Eat These 4 Foods, Says New Study