Project Summary

Kiki D. Chang, M.D. (Young Investigator 2002) of Stanford University, will attempt to determine if certain biological markers, such as information on brain structure and chemistry, which have been found in children and adults with bipolar disorder, preceded the onset of the disorder or were caused by the disorder itself.  Dr. Chang will study a population at risk for developing the disorder, before the disorder onset.  He will study the children and adolescents of parents with bipolar disorder who, it has been shown, are at high risk for eventual development of bipolar disorder themselves.  He will use magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to study bipolar offspring with prodromal bipolar disorder, and will reassess them one year later to map out what happens to certain brain chemicals during the development of childhood bipolar disorder.  Data will be compared to that of healthy volunteers of similar age and gender.  Particular focus will be given to levels of N-acetyl aspartate (a signal of neuronal viability) and GABA (an inhibitory neurotransmitter) in areas of the brain that are involved in mood regulation, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulated cortex.  This study will provide data regarding the evolution and early course of bipolar disorders.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Bipolar\Child/Adolescent

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