Bipolar disorder is a debilitating illness that can seriously affect your life. Many theories have been posited regarding the etiology of bipolar disorder. One interesting idea is that bipolar disorder is caused by a misfiring of brain neurons due to a malfunction in the brain messenger molecule known as glutamate.
About Glutamate
Glutamate is an amino acid that acts as a messenger in your brain. The neurons in your brain communicate with each other and let each other know when to fire by releasing these types of messenger chemicals, known as neurotransmitters, which also includes serotonin and norepinephrine. According to the ALS Association, glutamate performs the role of messenger by attaching to the receptor cells, transferring the message and then it is cleared away from the nerve cell junctions to avoid damage to the nerve cells. Researchers believe that glutamate over-stimulation, that is, when glutamate is not cleared away quickly enough or when it floods a cell with too much information, can lead to a host of serious problems, including bipolar disorder.
About Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a severe depressive disorder that causes alterations in your mood, ranging from depression to mania. These alterations occur with regularity and are referred to as mood swings. During a depressive episode, you may experience feelings of sadness, lack of self-esteem, irritability, insomnia and lethargy. Contrarily, you may suffer from opposite feelings during a manic episode, such as risk-taking, dangerous or irrational behavior, an extremely elevated mood and rapid speech and thoughts. While the causes aren't totally understood, bipolar disorder is thought to occur due to a combination of alternations in brain chemicals, like glutamate, combined with hereditary, psychological and social factors.
Clinical Evidence
In a study published in the July 2003 issue of the journal, "Psychopharmacology," researchers examined the levels of glutamate and glutamine, an amino acid made from glutamate, in the brains of eight patients suffering from mania by using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The results found that these patients suffered from abnormally high levels of both glutamate and glutamine. Another study, published in the May 2004 "Archives of General Psychiatry," found similar results. This study examined 26 bipolar patients to determine alterations in a number of brain chemicals, including glutamate, glutamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid, which is a precursor of glutamine. The researchers found that the study participants had significantly higher levels of these chemicals when compared to healthy controls.
Considerations
Research is still ongoing regarding the glutamate theory to determine newer, more effective interventions and treatments. Discuss any concerns you may have with your physician or a qualified mental health professional. If you think you may have bipolar disorder, consult your doctor to receive a proper diagnosis and to discuss treatment options. Do not attempt to self-diagnose your condition. Symptoms of bipolar disorder can become worse if not properly treated.
References
- ALS Foundation: Glutamate
- "Psychopharmacology"; Acute Mania is Accompanied by Elevated Glutamate/glutamine Levels Within the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex; N. Michael, et al; July 2003
- "Archives of General Psychiatry"; Brain Metabolic Alterations in Medication-free Patients With Bipolar Disorder; S.R. Dager, et al; May 2004
