I was diagnosed with BP 1 at age 21. I am 55 now. My symptoms were just barely controlled through my 30s, I went off meds from 32-38 while having children, went back to barely controlled symptoms with meds until about 45 or so when manias became mild and decreased in frequency. Seems my 50's are going to be fighting depression with few hypomanic states, and fewer mixed episodes. I attribute this to the changing of the symptoms with age since I've been on the same meds for 10 years with minor changes.I think the literature states that manias are infrequent, but depression more pronounced in later years. My plan is to focus on fighting depression and be thankful for the few hypomanias that come my way.