The Brain, Bipolar I Disorder, and ABILIFY
The symptoms of Bipolar I Disorder are thought to be caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. The exact way ABILIFY (or any other medicine for Bipolar I Disorder) works is unknown. On this page, you’ll learn how ABILIFY (aripiprazole) may work by adjusting the activity of some of these chemicals to help improve the symptoms of bipolar disorder.
The Brain
The human brain is an amazing organ. It is vastly more complex than any computer ever designed.
The brain regulates normal body functions such as breathing, sleeping, and heart rate… and enables us to see, hear, taste, smell, and touch. Our thoughts, memories, feelings, and movements are the result of brain activity. It provides us with the ability to concentrate, plan, remember, communicate, and relate to other people. The brain is involved in our emotions and personality.
The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system.
A constant stream of information moves back and forth between the central nervous system and the rest of the body. This information is carried by a network of nerves.
This network of nerves connects the brain and spinal cord to our skin, sensory organs (such as the eyes and ears), and our muscles, as well as to the internal organs, such as the heart and lungs.
Coordination of all of the information moving through the nervous system makes it possible for us to function in the world.
Brain Chemistry
The brain is made up of literally billions of nerve cells. These cells carry a constant stream of information.
In order to move this information from one cell to the next, nerve cells release chemicals known as neurotransmitters.
The system works like this:
When the information reaches the end of a nerve cell, the cell releases chemical neurotransmitters that carry the information from one nerve cell to the next. This is how information moves through the entire nervous system.
There are many different chemical neurotransmitters. Two chemicals needed for brain function are dopamine and serotonin, which play a crucial role in emotional health.
Bipolar I Disorder
The human brain is made up of billions of nerve cells. These cells communicate by releasing chemicals known as “neurotransmitters.”
Two key neurotransmitters that are needed for brain function are dopamine and serotonin, which play a crucial role in emotional health.
Many scientists believe that when the levels of these neurotransmitters aren’t quite right, it may result in the symptoms of Bipolar I Disorder.
For instance, too much dopamine in certain parts of the brain can cause symptoms such as delusions…
…while too little dopamine in other parts of the brain can cause symptoms such as a lack of emotion and energy.
How ABILIFY Is Thought to Work
The exact way ABILIFY (or any other medicine for Bipolar I Disorder) works is unknown. However, experts believe that ABILIFY works by adjusting dopamine, instead of completely blocking it, as well as affecting serotonin.
Source: abilify.com




