vidence for an Indirect Pathway from Bipolar Depression to Health Risks to Cognitive Impairment
The alarmingly high prevalence of medical comorbidities in BD led many investigators to conclude that BD is a multisystem disease affecting a diverse array of organs beyond the brain. In addition to the direct impacts of the illness on immune function and other systems that influence brain function, indirect pathways that interact with mood symptoms include poor health behaviors, and other risk factors that may affect cognition. These factors include diet and physical activity, smoking and substance use, and potential iatrogenic effects of medication used to treat symptoms.