Tick Tock, Redux

As I noted last year, some basic researchers--those would be the dorks who work with animal modules and molecules and such--have believed for some time that flawed/missing genes that regulate circadian rhythms are at the root of mania and bipolar disorder. I heartily agree, especially since street-level experience for most bipolars is that there first big grand episode was accompanied by a long period of sleeplessness. So this makes sense.

And, now, another study is out lending more credence to this theory. The study was done in mice, so I'd really like to see it replicated in primates--not that they can play the knockout gene game there as easily as with mice--before I put too much faith in it. But it supports the same basic theory. Read about it here.

Oh, yes, the manic mice also responded to Lithium. But I'm sure Zyprexa or Seroquel would work even better!