Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 7, 2026
Dried Blood Spot Collection of Health Biomarkers to Maximize Participation in Population Studies
Published on: January 28, 2014
Biomarkers
Rodolfo Braga Ladeira1, Vinicius Ribeiro Leduc1,2, Marcia Radanovic1
1Laboratorio de Neurociências (LIM27), Instituto de Psiquiatria do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Elderly individuals with bipolar disorder show increased medial temporal lobe atrophy compared to controls. Lithium treatment may reduce this brain atrophy, suggesting potential neuroprotective effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Geriatrics
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Bipolar disorder (BD) is linked to cognitive decline and brain structural changes like atrophy.
- Medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) affects memory and is observed in aging populations.
- Elderly individuals with BD may exhibit accelerated brain aging and MTA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess MTA in elderly patients with type-I bipolar disorder using MRI.
- To investigate the relationship between MTA and clinical factors in elderly BD patients.
- To explore the potential neuroprotective effects of lithium on brain structure.
Main Methods:
- Visual rating of MTA using Schelten's scale on MRI scans.
- Inclusion of 57 elderly euthymic individuals with type-I BD and 24 elderly controls.
- Manual evaluation by three independent, experienced researchers.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher left MTA scores in the BD group compared to controls (p=0.024).
- Bipolar patients not on lithium showed higher MTA scores than controls.
- Bipolar patients on lithium had lower MTA scores than those not on lithium.
Conclusions:
- Elderly individuals with type-I BD exhibit distinct MTA compared to controls.
- Lithium exposure may attenuate MTA in elderly BD patients, indicating potential neuroprotection.
- Visual rating scales are feasible for assessing structural brain alterations in BD.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...
01:19Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...