destroying parts of the brain? - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

musicgal · 09-09-2007, 06:02 PM

Anyone read anything about manic eposides destroying parts of the brain?

harmony06 · 09-13-2007, 04:40 AM

never heard that, although if your self medicating with hard drugs then i guess it's possible.

only my thought , i really don't know otherwise.

till next time

harmony

tsohl · 09-13-2007, 08:04 AM

I think what you may be referring to is relatively new research that shows, through spec imaging, that in an UNMEDICATED person who has BP, as one ages, with each subsequent episode there are visible changes in the front lobes of the brain. There is no doubt about this as it can be demonstrated through the use of imaging that is similar to MRI. It can also be shown that a person's brain is actually protected by the use of lithium. (You do not see differences in the brain of a 40-year old "normal" person compared to a 40-year old bipolar individual.) I don't know if studies have been done showing the use of other mood stabilizers. But it is now pretty well established that in an unmedicated bipolar individual the episodes of mania and/or depression will continue as the person ages, and that the symptoms usually intensify and worsen. The person will not "outgrow" BP as was once previously thought.

harmony06 · 09-13-2007, 09:46 AM

thank you tsohl for that insightful post. never realized that there could be some damage due to being bp and unmedicated. i wonder if i may already have damage due to the fact that i'm 47 and was just medicated as of last year. i guess there really is no answer to that unless i go through spec imaging and there's no point in going through that at this time. it just crossed my mind is all.

till next time

harmony

luckygem13 · 09-13-2007, 07:44 PM

Hi Harmony,

Did you just recently get diagnosed? My husband didn't get on meds till he was 48. He seems more stable now but the "dementia" symptoms are continuing to progress in my opinion. Unless they are simply more noticeable now that the Lithium has slowed him down whereas pre medication he was always moving "a mile a minute" so we would be hard pressed to observe them in someone moving about so quickly. Does that make any sense? Anyway, just curious since you are about my husband's age.

I think because my husband was so highly educated and so financially successful nobody stepped in or thought it could really be bipolar in someone so "successful". Of course now I know much more about bipolar but before his diagnosis I was a little confused to say the least. It's pretty sad actually, it reminds me a lot of the Brittany Spears, thing. How much more will she unravel? The untouchable star that is suffering inside and continues to because she is surrounded by people that say nothing but "yes" to her out of fear of her wrath.

I hope you are doing well Harmony!

Luvya,

Luckygem13