Bipolar disorder does not affect a person’s intelligence. However, it may impact the way a person thinks and behaves. Studies also suggest that having high intelligence may increase a person’s risk of bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes changes in mood, energy, and activity levels. Bipolar disorder often causes a person to experience high periods of mania and low periods of depression. It can affect how a person thinks and behaves in various ways.
This article discusses whether bipolar disorder can affect a person’s intelligence. It also outlines what intelligence is and discusses whether people with bipolar disorder are more intelligent.
Bipolar disorder does not directly affect a person’s intelligence. However, it can affect the way a person thinks and behaves.
People with bipolar disorder may have difficulty thinking clearly. This can affect how they carry out tasks and live their daily lives.
Depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder that can affect the way a person thinks and functions
- having trouble concentrating
- finding it difficult to make decisions
- feeling slow or restless
- talking slowly
- finding it difficult to think of things to say
- forgetting things easily
- feeling unable to carry out simple tasks
Manic symptoms of bipolar disorder that can affect the way a person thinks and functions include:
- experiencing racing thoughts
- feeling irritable
- talking quickly about a number of different things
Read more about how a person with bipolar disorder thinks.
Despite a lack of recent research, researchers categorize intelligence as the
In some cases, people can describe intelligence in terms of the biology of the brain as it relates to the functioning of the prefrontal cortex.
The prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain where a person
Some people refer to the prefrontal cortex as the “personality center” and believe it is the part of the brain that makes people uniquely human.
A note about sex and gender
Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more.
People with bipolar disorder are not more intelligent than people without the disorder.
However, studies suggest that having high intelligence may increase a person’s risk of developing certain psychological disorders, including bipolar disorder.
A
The study’s authors concluded that there was a genetic overlap between bipolar disorder and intelligence. They stated that certain genetic variants could influence intelligence and increase a person’s risk of bipolar disorder.
An
The study concluded that, in males, high intelligence may be a risk factor for bipolar disorder. However, the study added that this was only the case in people who had the disorder in a “pure” form.
The study states that these individuals had bipolar disorder with no comorbid (co-occurring) disorders or with only depressive disorder as a comorbid disorder.
The following are answers to some questions people frequently ask about bipolar disorder and intelligence.
Are people with bipolar disorder more emotionally intelligent?
Emotional intelligence refers to a person’s ability to understand and manage their own emotions. It also involves being able to recognize the emotions of others and act accordingly.
People with bipolar disorder are not more emotionally intelligent than people without the disorder.
One
The study states that a person who has early stage bipolar disorder will often have higher emotional intelligence than someone who is in the later stages of the condition.
The study suggests that the burden of bipolar disorder and the person’s cognitive decline may lead to a decrease in emotional intelligence.
What is the leading cause of death in people with bipolar disorder?
Medical professionals
A person with bipolar disorder is at an increased risk of death due to suicide than a person who does not have bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder also increases a person’s risk of death from unnatural and natural causes.
People with bipolar disorder are also at an increased risk of death from natural causes such as infectious diseases, respiratory causes, and cardiovascular causes.
Bipolar disorder resources
Visit our dedicated hub for more research-backed information and in-depth resources on bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder causes a person to experience high moods of mania and low moods of depression.
Bipolar disorder does not affect a person’s intelligence. However, certain symptoms of bipolar disorder may impact the way a person thinks and behaves.
Depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder may cause a person to have trouble concentrating and making decisions. They may also cause a person to talk slowly, feel restless, and find it difficult to think of things to say.
Manic symptoms of bipolar disorder may cause a person to experience racing thoughts, feel irritable, and talk quickly about a number of different things.
Studies do suggest that people who have high intelligence may be at a higher chance of bipolar disorder. There may be genetic reasons for this.