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well.
Speaking at a meeting
of the Biochemical Society in London, Dr. Sophia Frangou
said, “We know a lot about what makes people vulnerable
to bipolar disorder, but most people who are at risk
remain well,” she said. “We wanted to find out what
keeps them well.”
Dr. Frangou and her
team from the Institute of Psychiatry in London examined
how genetic risk factors translate into changes in the
brain’s networks using a series of brain imaging studies
involving 227 relatives from 53 families where one
member had bipolar illness.
The participants were
in the scanner for one hour and they also took part in
cognitive tests designed to engage brain networks
involved in emotional processing, decision-making,
working memory and attention.
“We found that genetic
risk to bipolar disorder was associated with
overactivity within brain regions that process emotion,
such as the amygdala. However, we also found that it was
the function of another brain region, called the
prefrontal cortex that seemed to differentiate those who
became unwell compared to those who did not.
“In people who remained
well, despite their genetic risk for bipolar disorder,
the function of the prefrontal cortex also remained
intact while this was compromised in those who developed
the illness.”
Further analysis of the
complexities of what makes a person at risk or resilient
to bipolar disorder is required but this research
suggest that it may soon be possible to advise people
with a family history of bipolar disorder about their
individual risk or resilience.
“Being a risk of
bipolar disorder does not mean that developing the
illness is inescapable,” said Dr. Frangou. “We are
closer now to identifying risk so that people can be
better informed about life choices. Our research will
help us personalise prevention and treatment
strategies.”
-- Courtesy
of Psychcentral.com |
