Blood flow in the brain, or cerebral blood flow (CBF), is not only an indicator of brain health but also of a person’s overall vascular health. Bipolar disorder has been linked to cardiovascular health and problems with blood vessels in general. There have been numerous studies that showed abnormal CBF in adults with bipolar disorder, especially in relation to mood symptoms. But little is known about CBF in youth with bipolar disorder.
Researchers from CAMH's Centre for Youth Bipolar Disorder looked to increase our knowledge of the connection between mood and CBF in this population. For their study, they recruited 81 youth with bipolar disorder between 13 and 20 years old. They used magnetic resonance imaging to look at CBF in specific areas of the brain and examined how it varies based on the severity of the core symptoms of depression and mania.
To learn about their findings, read our latest Research Snapshot.