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Bipolar disorder: how genetics plays a role

Updated on October 25, 2024

Some bipolar patients recognize the condition within their own family tree.

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Transcript

00:00
Everything since the day we were-- we've been born plus our genetics is dictating who we are today.
00:06
[MUSIC PLAYING]
00:14
We know that genetics does and can play a role, rather, in some medical conditions, including bipolar disorder. Can you explain what that means?
00:21
Yeah. It's very tricky. And when it comes to psychiatric diagnoses, bipolar disorder is by far the most heritable mood disorder
00:30
that we're aware of, but researchers are seeing that it's not that easy. It's not one gene.
00:37
It's almost like the perfect storm of multiple genetic issues happening. But don't forget, I always want to remind everyone
00:45
that not only is there a lot of genetics, but there's a ton of psychosocial components that actually increase the risk of bipolar disorder, right?
00:53
So there are other things besides genetics, but really strong genetics, the sooner that you can treat it, the better.
01:00
Hmm. Really excellent points there. Hannah and Mike, do you have a family history of bipolar disorder in your own families.
01:06
And how does your family talk about the disorder with you or with other people? I'd love to know that. Maybe we can start with you, Hannah.
01:12
Yeah. So unfortunately, because so many people, especially
01:19
in the past, have hid bipolar disorder, I don't really know. Right. I-- it's all based on speculation of my grandmother,
01:28
for an example. There were signs, but this is all assumption, because it's not like it was being talked about at all.
01:36
My parents do not. We have an open conversation about it kind of because I've really opened a can of worms,
01:44
and so they're very supportive. But as far as family, no one in my immediate, but definitely two of my grandparents.
01:53
However, it was never officially diagnosed. Right. No, understood. Thank you for that.
01:59
And Mike, what about you? Again, similar to Hannah, concealed, like who's the weird uncle, all that stuff.
02:07
And only since I went public and started doing what I'm doing and decided to tell
02:14
a different story with my life have these diagnoses been pursued in our family. So on my mom's side, it's a little touch of depression.
02:23
But definitely on my father's side, there's 5 diagnoses of bipolar. So-- Wow. But only-- I mean, again, only in the last seven or eight
02:31
years is that even known. So yeah, very, very similar. Well, it sounds like you also have done a lot for opening up
02:39
the dialogue and the conversation with your family about this, both you and Hannah. It sounds like you've done a lot of good.

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