Depression/Bipolar... brain degeneration links?

I've been led to understand that long term issues .. such as bipolar depression.. can lead to degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Well my grandmother had parkinson's and my dad was just diagnosed. I have yet to learn (but will be asking) what my late grandmother's history with depression was.. but my dad has no doubt dealing with bipolar issues throughout his life.

It looks as if Parkinson's is related to reduced ability to produce dopamine... so I can see how there might be a link. I'm just wondering what other folks have learned about this. Anyway... I'm glad that I'm finally getting treated for this stuff.. because it perhaps might be a way to stave that stuff off...

The Skeezyks doesn't know a lot about this. My father had Parkinson's. So far, at least, I don't have it & I'm gettin' up there in age. I've read that Parkinson's is not inherited except in a few instances. My family-of-origin is all gone now. So there's no one to ask about anything. If such conditions as long-term depression & anxiety can lead to Alzheimer's & Parkinson's, then I would guess I'm overdue.

I recall reading somewhere that one circumstance, that has been found to contribute to the development of Parkinson's, is repeated exposure to insecticides. This was interesting to me because when I was going into 7th grade my parents moved us out into the country to an area where there were tons of mosquitos. My father had a lawn & garden tractor (International Harvester) that had a fogger attachment. I can still see him riding around on that tractor fogging the yard so that we could all sit outside during the long summer evenings...

Some studies have demonstrated that Lithium acts as a protective agent against Alzheimer's. It runs in my family so I am glad I am taking Lithium. Haven't heard of studies on other psych meds. Bipolar must certainly mess with our brains though. Where did you get your information from? Was it a study or just online pages. I really hope not as i like my brain and would hate to lose any brain function. On the other hand there are people who have had BP all their life and have healthy brains despite it.

So did you ever take meds for depression? That sounds like the key to avoiding these things.. at least according to what I've read and from my pdoc...

So far I've just read generally that treatment for bipolar depression helps all of this due to dopamine links, etc. I see a new MD psychiatrist this week.. so will ask.

Not to be a Bummer Bob, but wouldn't some drugs...like the neuroleptics, for instance...raise the risk of Parkinsons and dementia? I mean, I'm no expert, it just...well, the antipsychotics block dopamine. They can cause drug induced symptoms of Parkinsons just over the short term.

Well.. I will find out more tomorrow.. but the info I saw was mostly in reference to controlling bipolar depression rather than psychosis. So.. perhaps it's more a general thing affecting those prone to cyclical/chronic depression rather than 'bipolar'.

Good point on the dopamine blocking though...