BIPOLAR DISORDER AND DEMENTIA: A CLOSE LINK

Cognitive impairment in psychiatric disorders plays an important role in patient’s social adjustement and global prognosis. Specific cognitive deficits during different phases of mood disorders have been demonstrated by recent meta-analyses. Several imaging data also confirmed progressive brain damages in mood disorders compatible with cognitive symptoms. Different biological hypotheses have been put forward to explain the association between bipolar disorder (BD) and dementia. Some useful treatments for BD, such as lithium, have demonstrated a great effectiveness in both dementia prevention and BD. Further studies are however needed to assess the possible existence of a characteristic dementia in BD.