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Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach
Published on: February 14, 2014
Bipolar disorder and age-related functional impairment
Alice Aita Cacilhas1, Pedro Vieira da Silva Magalhães, Keila Maria Ceresér
1INCT Translational Medicine, Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Revista Brasileira De Psiquiatria (Sao Paulo, Brazil : 1999)
|January 26, 2010
Summary
Bipolar disorder significantly worsens age-related functional decline. This study shows that individuals with bipolar disorder experience a more pronounced impact of aging on their functioning compared to controls.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Bipolar disorder is a leading cause of global functional impairment.
- The independent effects of bipolar disorder and aging on functioning remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of bipolar disorder on age-related functional status.
- To compare functional status in bipolar disorder patients versus matched controls.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional evaluation of 100 bipolar disorder patients and matched controls.
- Disability assessment with control for confounding age-related effects.
Main Results:
- Bipolar disorder patients exhibited significantly greater functional impairment than controls.
- Aging affected functioning in both groups, but the effect size was markedly larger in bipolar disorder patients.
- Bipolar disorder acts as a significant effect modifier for age-related functional decline.
Conclusions:
- Bipolar disorder exacerbates the impact of aging on an individual's functioning.
- This suggests bipolar disorder is a chronic, progressive illness with long-term functional consequences.
- Further longitudinal studies are recommended to confirm these findings.
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