Bipolar disorder is a chronic, debilitating illness affecting over 60 million people worldwide. In the past year, an estimated 2.8% of adults and 2.9% of adolescents in the U.S. had bipolar disorder. In addition to the severe impairments to a person's day-to-day life, patients with bipolar disorder are known to have a higher risk of developing other disorders and medical conditions.Despite the high prevalence and serious health consequences, very little is known about the causes of bipolar disorder.
Understanding the genetic and biochemical basis of this disorder, along with the brain mechanisms responsible for the onset of symptoms, is crucial to improving the way we currently diagnose and treat bipolar disorder, particularly for patients who have not found relief with existing medications and therapies.
The understanding of this illness has certainly evolved in recent years, but further study is needed to advance our knowledge. One key area is the complex interactions of cellular and molecular mechanism with brain alterations and memory impairments associated with bipolar disorder. Here is where the Bipolar Research Project, led by Jair C. Soares, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UTHealth Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders, comes in. Our research is focused on clarifying the relationship between these biomarkers and brain alterations at different phases of the disorder. We hope that the insights gained from this project will help develop more effective and groundbreaking treatments, leading to better outcomes for all of our patients.
By giving today, you have the opportunity to touch countless lives as we strive to better understand bipolar disorder through this important research. Your support can make a positive impact on the lives of so many people struggling with this debilitating disorder, offering hope for a better future. Please also share our mission with friends, family and community members. Together, we can make this possible.
