Posted by linkadge on July 2, 2004, at 17:24:04
In reply to Brain damage from bipolar: significant in life?, posted by AMD on July 2, 2004, at 16:11:43
Yes there is some evidence of decreases NAA levels in the frontal cortex of bipolars, as there is with Methamphetamine abusers.
What to note.
I would assume this is depedant on the duration of illness untreated.
Lithium has been shown to increase levels of NAA in the human brain.
I would assume that most mood stabalizers would prevent NAA decrease, and that it would increase by iteslf over time.
Also note that NAA is simply a marker of neronal viability. When it is decreased it may simply mean that brain cells are not working well, or are srunken etc, not necessarily that brain cells are permanently fried. Lithium and valproate are famous for being able to rescue half dead cells.
Not as much research has been conducted on the other medications. This does not mean they are not neuroprotective.
Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:362650
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040627/msgs/362663.html