Body clock linked to bipolar disorder

2009-11-29 00:03:39 (GMT) (WiredPRNews.com - Medical News, News)

A new study suggests bipolar disorder may be linked to genetic variations.

New research links the disorder to gene variations in children.

U.S. (WiredPRNews.com) – A new study finds bipolar disorder in children may be linked to gene variations that may leave some susceptible to symptoms of the disorder. As reported by HealthDay News, the research suggests children with bipolar disorder may have an internal clock that goes awry at some point during development.

Dr. Alexander Niculescu, of the Indiana University School of Medicine, who co-authored the study, is quoted in the report as stating of the findings, “Our findings suggest that clock genes in general, and RORB in particular, may be important candidates for further investigation in the search for the molecular basis of bipolar disorder.”

Niculescu is further quoted by HealthDay News as stating, “Bipolar disorder is often characterized by circadian rhythm abnormalities, and this is particularly true among pediatric bipolar patients… Decreased sleep has even been noted as one of the earliest symptoms discriminating children with bipolar disorder from those with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder… It will be necessary to verify our association results in other independent samples and to continue to study the relationship between RORB, other clock genes and bipolar disorder.”

More information about the research may be available in the BMC Psychiatry online publication.

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