My average morning: My alarm clock blasts the stereotypical sound associated with 7 a.m. mornings. I awake from what I wouldn’t even call sleep, and I stare at the ceiling wondering how I’m going to survive today’s chemistry exam when even the TA insists that this is his “cherry on the top.” Glancing over at my roommate as he snores louder than Yawkey Way on opening day at Fenway Park, I think to myself why couldn’t you just close your mouth and breath through your nose? Looking back at the clock, I guesstimate how much time I have left to savor the comfort of my own bed before jumping up to begin my whole routine. Well, at least this isn’t the worst day I’ve ever had…LOSING.

Charlie Sheen’s average morning: Lounging in bed with his porn star girlfriend strewn across his body and a model in the other arm, the text message of his personal trainer awakens the beast from his multi-million dollar master bedroom. Its 5 a.m. and Charlie is sweating bullets in his household gym, while his trainer continues to sculpt the comedian’s six pack. Following the extreme workout, Charlie offers his trainer or anyone for that matter, a cigar from his conveniently located hidden vault as opposed to the traditional “would you like to stay for breakfast?” Standing in the kitchen looking out over his extravagant backyard pool with a cup of Folgers, he smiles….WINNING.

This may seem long overdue, but it has taken me until at least this point to really understand this whole fiasco surrounding Charlie Sheen. From the male perspective who wouldn’t want to be Charlie Sheen for one day? The guy wakes up with a porn star and model draped over him, and not to mention, he is swimming in money regardless of whether Two and a Half Men ever comes back on the air. Although Sheen may come off as vulgar and inconsiderate, especially when looking at his past relationships, he is living the life right now. Not to mention the fact that all of these recent interviews have only increased his popularity and wealth! However, I’m not saying what he did is right, but there is more than what meets the eye with Charlie Sheen.

A complex illness that is characterized by dramatic and unpredictable mood swings, you could say bipolar disorder is the perfect disorder for a successful actor to have. More importantly, it is clear now that this was also handed down to Charlie through his bipolar father, Martin Sheen. Studies at Stanford University, which explored the genetic connection of bipolar disorder found that children with one biological parent with bipolar I or bipolar II disorder have an increased likelihood of having the condition. In this study researchers reported that 51% of children are likely to obtain a disorder ranging from bipolar disorder to something such as ADHD.

There are several types of bipolar disorders, all of which involve episodes of depression and mania to a degree. Mainly though, we can break down bipolar disorder into bipolar-depression and bipolar-mania. Experts believe bipolar disorder is partly caused by an underlying problem with the balance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Three brain chemicals, norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine are involved in both brain and bodily functions. The disruption of these systems in various balances is what leads to various mental illnesses. During the most recent interviews depicting his radical conversations with various reporters, Charlie demonstrated bipolar-mania related symptoms including everything from excessive happiness and excitement to restlessness and racing thoughts. But we must remember, genetics wasn’t the sole source of Charlie’s problem, for he invited cocaine to the party.

Deep in the brain there are centers that provide feelings of euphoria and pleasure also know as reward centers. An event that is “rewarding” is accompanied by the release of a chemical known as dopamine. Dopamine allows feelings of pleasure and euphoria. Normally, the dopamine is released into small gaps between neurons in the brain where it binds with proteins in the gaps and sends the appropriate signals to the brain. The dopamine then leaves the gap. Cocaine substance abuse disrupts this process. Cocaine actually blocks the dopamine from leaving the gaps between the brain’s neurons leading to a buildup of dopamine, which continually stimulates the brain. Now when we put all of the puzzle pieces together, at least we can understand why Charlie was sweating to death with his pupils dilated, consumed by his feelings of being “alive.”

In short, Charlie and I live completely different lives. I’m a college student trying to work my way up the ladder of success on the east coast, while Charlie is lounging in bed with his porn star girlfriend. Although I could tell him certain combinations of counseling and medication are available to him, at least to stabilize his mood over time, at this point, I don’t think he would consider my suggestion a WINNING option…

Bipolar Disorder – WebMD

Cocaine Abuse – Drug Rehab 101

It has been said “The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not ‘Eureka!’ but ‘That’s funny…’” (Isaac Asimov), and a recent observation by a Harvard Medical School lab studying the brain chemistry of Bipolar Disorder has researchers uttering that precise phrase…as well as the one alluded to in the title of this post.

The initial study prompting such observations recruited patients suffering specifically from Bipolar Disorder, also known as Manic-Depression, for 20-minute brain scans in an MRI.  MRI scans subject patients to a harmless magnetic field and pulses of radio waves to create detailed structural images of various body parts, in this case, the brain.  While the procedure is painless and relatively short, it can be unpleasant for reasons wholly unrelated to the magnets and radio signals; patients frequently report unrelated bodily discomfort or claustrophobia.  For this reason it was all the more surprising, according to one researcher, that patients participating in the study started to report mood elevations (that for some lasted days or even a week) following the scan.  One patient even subtly suggested that the researchers had slipped her something without her permission.

Patient undergoing TMS treatment for depression

The use of magnets to improve the effects of depression is not uncharted territory in neuroscience and it might even sound familiar to some.  Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, is another technique that has recently been adapted to depression therapy, yet it is more akin to electroconvulsive, or “electroshock”, therapy (ECT) than MRI.

TMS uses a magnetic field to induce a relatively small electric current, without causing seizure or loss of consciousness, to stimulate the left prefrontal cortex, the area thought to be under-active in depression.  Whereas ECT treatments are utilized only in the most extreme depression cases because of the risk of seizure and necessity of sedation, TMS carries much fewer risks and can be used for more mild depression. While the exact mechanisms are still not known, particularly the roll of seizure for the antidepressant effects, both ECT and TMS have been cleared by the FDA.

But the magnet employed in MRI does not excite specific brain regions (if it did the entire imaging method of functional magnetic resonance imaging, fMRI, would be ineffective) and it is certainly not strong enough to induce seizures.  After observing the curious side-effects of their initial study, the aforementioned researchers set up a small preliminary study with both bipolar and normal controls who confirmed respectively that the effects were not placebo, and that even those without depression can experience the mood-boosting effects of MRI.

So could a new depression treatment soon be joining the ranks of such accidental scientific breakthroughs as penicillin and Post-It notes?  At this point it really is unclear.  The actual mechanism of the mood-boosting effects of MRI on depressed patients is not yet understood, nor have the effects been generalized to unipolar depression.  However, the safety of exposure to MRI has been confirmed by the FDA and a lack of total understanding regarding what causes the “miraculous” effects of that other magnet-based depression treatment, TMS, as well as a host of other medical treatments (including lithium for Bipolar Disorder) certainly has not prevented their use.

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