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Updated: May 21, 2026

Developing a Rat Model for Bipolar Disorder
Published on: May 2, 2025
Development of frontotemporal dementia in a case of bipolar affective disorder: is there a link?
Aleksandar Pavlovic1, Justin Marley, Velusamy Sivakumar
1Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK. dralex@doctors.org.uk
Abstract:
The authors present the case of a 68-year-old lady with a 35-year history of bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) type I, who developed frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Description of the psychopathology is illustrated with examples of patient's writings in order to demonstrate cognitive abilities at different stages. The diagnosis is supported by MRI and SPECT scans. The authors discuss the difficulties in differentiating the clinical presentation of chronic BPAD and FTD and examine the evidence for two important questions: Is there a relationship between BPAD and FTD and is there a relationship between lithium and risk of dementia? This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first reported SPECT scan finding in a case of frontotemporal dementia following chronic bipolar affective disorder.
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