Predictors of cognitive performance in bipolar disorder: The role of educational degree and inflammatory markers

Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a chronic a multifactorial psychiatric illness that affects mood, cognition, and functioning. BD is associated with several psychiatric conditions as well clinical comorbidities, particularly cardiovascular diseases. The neurobiology of BD is complex and multifactorial and several systems have been implicated. Considering that the Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) plays an important role in cardiovascular diseases and that recently evidence has suggested its role in psychiatric disorders, the aim of the present study is to summarize and to discuss recent findings related to the modulation of RAS components in BD. A systematic search of the literature using the electronic databases MEDLINE and LILACS was conducted through March 2019. The search terms were: “Bipolar Disorder”; “Renin Angiotensin System”; “Angiotensin 2”; “Angiotensin receptors”; “Angiotensin 1-7”; “ACE”; “ACE2”; “Mas Receptor”. We included original studies assessing RAS in BD patients. Two hundred twenty-two citations were initially retrieved. Eleven studies were included in our systematic review. In the majority of studies (6 of 8), the ACE insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism did not differ between BD patients and controls. BD patients presented higher plasma renin activity in comparison with controls. The studies evaluating the RAS molecules in BD are very scarce and heterogeneous. The literature suggests a potential role of RAS in BD. Further studies are necessary to investigate this relationship.

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Considering a Potential Role of Linalool as a Mood Stabilizer for Bipolar Disorder

Current Pharmaceutical Design ◽

10.2174/1381612826666200724160742 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (40) ◽

pp. 5128-5133

Author(s):

Kate Levenberg ◽

Wade Edris ◽

Martha Levine ◽

Daniel R. George

Keyword(s):

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Mood Stabilizer ◽

Well Being ◽

Epidemiologic Studies ◽

Treatment Regimens ◽

Bipolar Spectrum Disorders ◽

Short And Long Term

Epidemiologic studies suggest that the lifetime prevalence of bipolar spectrum disorders ranges from 2.8 to 6.5 percent of the population. To decrease morbidity and mortality associated with disease progression, pharmacologic intervention is indicated for the majority of these patients. While a number of effective treatment regimens exist, many conventional medications have significant side effect profiles that adversely impact patients’ short and long-term well-being. It is thus important to continue advancing and improving therapeutic options available to patients. This paper reviews the limitations of current treatments and examines the chemical compound Linalool, an alcohol found in many plant species, that may serve as an effective mood stabilizer. While relatively little is known about Linalool and bipolar disorder, the compound has been shown to have antiepileptic, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, anti-depressive, and neurotrophic effects, with mechanisms that are comparable to current bipolar disorder treatment options.

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