Bipolar Disorder and Genetics: What Caregivers Need to Know
Aired on Thursday, November 16, 2023
Watch Below!
Family caregivers of people living with bipolar disorder benefit from understanding as much as they can about genetics. During our live interview with Benjamin Neale, PhD, we explored what caregivers need to know about how bipolar disorder occurs in families, the role of genetics in bipolar disorder, and what signs are important, especially in young adults. We also asked about Dr. Neale’s research and how it will help families affected by bipolar disorder.
Special thanks to Alkermes for supporting this program.
Presenters
Benjamin Neale, PhD
Dr. Benjamin Neale is co-director of the Program in Medical and Population Genetics at the Broad Institute and is Director of Genetics at the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research. He is an associate professor in the Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit (ATGU) at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), where he directs the Genomics of Public Health Initiative. He is also an associate professor in medicine at Harvard Medical School (HMS). Neale is strongly committed to understanding the genetic influences on psychiatric illness and how to translate those into insights into the biological basis of these diseases.
Susan Weinstein, JD
Susan Weinstein, JD, Co-Executive Director, has been primarily responsible for programs and finances at Families for Depression Awareness since 2012. Susan was diagnosed with depression in her teens and has drawn from her personal experiences to inform FFDA’s curriculum. She has worked in nonprofits and local government throughout her career, generally in a non-legal capacity. She holds several volunteer positions, including serving on the Executive Committee and as Governance Committee Chair of the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention and holding a variety of elected and appointed seats in her town government since 1992. A native of South Florida, Susan is a graduate of Wellesley College and the Boston University School of Law.