Bipolar disorders in older adults

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a serious mental illness affecting up to 1% of the elderly population. As the population ages and awareness surrounding BD increases, the prevalence of older-age bipolar disorder (OABD) is expected to rise. OABD is marked by high rates of functional impairment, physical comorbidity, cognitive deficits, and mortality, pointing to the need for an integrative biopsychosocial approach to care. Further research is needed to elucidate the etiology of early- versus late-onset BD to better understand the effects of psychotropic medications amongst people with OABD through clinical trials and to investigate brain aging and peripheral inflammation in this population through longitudinal studies. In addition, global consortia are needed to conduct prospective studies and trials with standardized measures relevant to OABD.