Incidence of Parkinson's disease, dementia, cerebrovascular disease and stroke in bipolar disorder compared to other psychiatric disorders: An electronic health records network study of 66 million people.

Bipolar disorder confers an elevated risk for developing neurodegenerative disorders and cerebrovascular disease compared to other major adult psychiatric disorders. The results cannot be attributed to recognised confounders. The results are consistent with neuroprogressive views of bipolar disorder. The underlying mechanisms remain to be discovered.