Genetics, is there a link within Bipolar families?

I asked my father, what would you like to know about bipolar disorder? He said he’d like to know more about the genetic factors contributing to the disorder and if there are any foods which exacerbate it. I’m going to try to address both his questions today. Let’s first begin with the genetic aspect of the disorder. 

In 1986 The Columbia Bipolar Genetic Study started a collaborative effort with the New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI) and Columbia University. NYSPI is world-renowned. It was established in 1896, and is the oldest psychiatric research institute in the United States. Their laboratory is part of the Columbia University Genome Center. The Genome Center houses a community of laboratories run by scientists who have expertise in all aspects of the search for disease genes. The clinicians involved in this study have contributed to the development of the main diagnostic methods currently in use. 

So far their findings have found that bipolar disorder runs in families. The children of parents with bipolar disorder are at increased risk for developing the disease themselves, even if they are adopted and raised by parents who do not have this condition. This clearly points to the involvement of genetic influences. Also, twin studies provide additional support for the importance of genetic factors. The identical twin of someone who suffers from manic depression is at a much greater risk for the illness than a fraternal twin. Because identical twins share all their genes and fraternal twins share only half their genes, this difference in risk highlights the role of heredity as a cause of the disorder. 

Environmental factors are also believed to play a role in determining who is susceptible to the disease. Such factors may include certain viral infections, toxic agents, and emotional stress.  

In recent years, linkage between the illness and genetic markers has been reported by several investigators, but the genes themselves have yet to be isolated. The Columbia Bipolar Genetic Study has reported a possible marker for the disease gene on chromosome 21. This finding has been reproduced by other investigators. Other groups have reported possible markers on other chromosomes, including chromosomes 4, 13, 18, and the X-chromosome. The disease may not be caused by the same gene or genes in all individuals. Some genes may be involved because they interact with other genes. Source Source2 

Several institutions are currently looking for individuals to participate in their studies. The Columbia Bipolar Genetic Study’s link to admission is here: Admission 

Johns Hopkins also has a study available for participation: Admission 

 

Now, are there any foods that make the symptoms of bipolar worse? 

As I mentioned in a previous blog, there is no specific bipolar diet. However, WebMD suggests to avoid caffeine because it can disrupt sleep patterns and avoid high-fat foods because they can slow the absorption of your medications into your body. Livestrong suggests the same thing. Some others suggest staying away from unrefined carbs because they can cause unhealthy cravings that can make mood swings worse. Source It seems that things that everyone should avoid, such as caffeine, alcohol, sugar, salt, and fats, should also be avoided by those of us with bipolar.  Source

 

I hope this information is helpful to you all. Have a great day!