Please may I know how bipolar disorder may affect one's intelligence or memory?

Answer 1

Bipolar disorder is unlikely affect ones intelligence, in fact it shouldnt affect it at all, memory as well. the only thing that it is likely to affect is behaviour and thoughts. AKA manic depression its liable to lad to mood swings of 'euphoric highs and crippling lows' but neither intelligence or memory

Answer 2

This disorder won't make you intelligent but many intelligent and creative people have this disorder. As far as memory goes, it seems either medication or the disorder that could cause problems with memory. If a person gets very Manic and delusional even psychotic they aren't able to remember when they come down from this, what happened or all of what happened. If they get extremely depressed then one of the symptoms of depression can be memory disturbance.
There are many variations of "bipolar" disorder.

Answer 3

It doesn't affect intelligence, as some of the most intelligent and creative people on this planet are or was bi-polar. As for memory, I believe it doesn't affect that either, but if thats happening to you or a friend you know ,then it may be another cause and you should check it out. On the other hand Lithium the drug to keep a bi-polars moods level might have those effects. You need to do a google search on the problem.

Answer 4

Hmmm. Well, there is a strong link between creativity and bipolar disorder, but I don't believe there is a link between intelligence and bipolar. But that wasn't really the question...

There is some evidence from MRI scans that bipolar disorder can cause a progressive deterioration of neuronal connections in some brain areas, so in cheap headlines: "Bipolar Rots Your Brain."

Secondly, the meds used to treat bipolar can and do have an impact on intelligence and memory. Topomax is referred to as Dope-a-max as it has a legendary ability to render you as dumb as a box of rocks. Several of the other meds list 'cognitive impairment' as side effects.

Thirdly, many of the bipolar meds are metabolised in the liver, and give the liver a real hard time. This in turn reduces the ammount of available B vitamins, and they have a role to play in short term memory. I could barely remember my name on lamotrigine and amitriptyline, but MAJOR doses of B vits seem to have fixed that, though my attention span is a bit shot still.

Answer 5

It needn't make any difference at all. I used to know someone who was probably the best brain I've ever encountered (and I've moved amongst a fair few) but was very severely bipolar - both up and down - and as a result was a genuinely tragic figure; e.g. he would definitely have reached the top of his profession had it not been for the difficulty in managing his outbreaks (he was one of those people for whom it was difficult to get the right dose of medication).

I could work *with* him - in fact I thoroughly enjoyed working with him - but I would have hated to have to work *for* him because the disjunct between his intellect and his temperament was too much for most people to handle.

However I should stress that he was an extreme example of the malady; anyone with bipolar friends and relations shoudn't necessarily feel condemned to such a demanding life.

Answer 6

Bipolar didorder as a medical condition has no bearing on intelligence.

The meds used to treat bipolar disorder can create short term memory problems and what I call "fuzzy brain" . They slow your brain function down and make it hard to do math, answer questions, etc. These are medication effects, not a result of being bipolar. If you think medication is causing problems, talk to your doctor to see if a different medication can be used.

Answer 7

I do not believe the disorder, which I have also, affects memory or intelligence. I do, however, believe the medication can affect memory. Since I have started taking Klonapin (I also have anxiety), I have noticed a little change in memory retention.

Answer 8

I empthaize including your situation. i think of the subject isn't basically with peoples lack of know-how yet societys social shape. maximum human beings of society instruments the norm, those that exceed the norm are showered with love and affection. those that fall below or on your case are purely distinctive via scientific motives are rejected and "categorized" by using the norm. in any case good success to you i'm hoping you hit upon peace and happiness regardless of your ailment.

Answer 9

I don't know about intellegence, but my friend is bipolar. now when she gets angry which she has her good days and bad days, she can't remember what happened, when she again becomes normal. the doctor told her family that it was because she blacks out. He also brought up the fact that she could have a split personality. We got this checked out and it was wrong but we were glad we checked, but it was because she blacks out.

Answer 10

Stephen Fry is bi polar and is one of the cleverest people I have ever met! He has no problems storing large amounts of information and regularly spends hours on the internet researching. He even remembered my name the 2nd time we met and I'd only spoken to him briefly the 1st time!