Women With Bipolar Disorder are at Increased Risk of Sarcopenia.
8 affiliations
- 1Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
- 2Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
- 3Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Australia.
- 4Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health, Parkville, Australia.
- 5Institute of Clinical Medicine, Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
- 6Institute of Clinical Medicine, Kuopio Musculoskeletal Research Unit (KMRU), University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
- 7Department of Medicine-Western Health, The University of Melbourne, St Albans, Victoria, Australia.
- 8School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract
Introduction
While bipolar disorder is associated with significant comorbidity, little is known about the musculoskeletal health of individuals with bipolar disorder. Thus, we aimed to investigate the association between bipolar disorder and muscle strength, mass, quality and sarcopenia.Methods
Women with bipolar disorder (n = 106) were recruited from healthcare settings and age-matched to controls (n = 300), without bipolar disorder, from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study. Both groups, aged ≥ 20 years. were drawn from South-Eastern Australia. Bipolar disorder was identified using a clinical interview (SCID-I/NP). Maximum handgrip strength (HGS) was measured using a Jamar dynamometer, appendicular lean mass (ALM) using a Lunar densitometer and body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) was calculated. Foundation for the National Institute of Health (FNIH) and European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) algorithms were used to determine low HGS, ALM, probable and confirmed sarcopenia. Socioeconomic status (SES) was determined and information on lifestyle obtained via questionnaire.Results
Higher proportion of women with bipolar disorder met criteria for low HGS and ALM compared to those without bipolar disorder. Using FNIH and EWGSOP2 criteria, 36 (8.9%; 34 probable and 2 confirmed) and 46 (11.4%; 43 probable and 3 confirmed) women met criteria for sarcopenia, respectively. Women with bipolar disorder were twice as likely to have sarcopenia (FNIH; OR 2.24, 95% CI: 1.11-4.55 and EWGSOP2; OR 2.78, 95% CI: 1.47-5.20), independent of age, smoking, activity, alcohol, diet and SES.Conclusion
These data suggest women with bipolar disorder have an increased likelihood of sarcopenia. Replication and research into underlying mechanisms are next necessary steps.
Related
- GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Risk of Kidney Replacement Therapy and Healthcare Utilization in Bipolar Disorder with Chronic Kidney Disease
- Risk Indicator Aggregation and Cluster Stability Across Developmental Domains from Early to Middle Childhood in Children at Familial High-Risk of Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder and Population-Based Controls
- Contraceptive use in women of childbearing age with bipolar disorder.
- Persistence of psychotic experiences and clinical outcomes in adolescents at familial high risk of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder: The Danish High Risk and Resilience Study
- Association between maintenance doses of mood stabilizers and antipsychotics and risk of readmission in first-episode bipolar disorder
BibTeX
@article{williams2026women,
title = {{Women With Bipolar Disorder are at Increased Risk of Sarcopenia.}},
author = {Lana J Williams and Amanda L Stuart and Michael Berk and Shae E Quirk and Emma C West and Heli Koivumaa-Honkanen and Risto Honkanen and Jeremi Heikkinen and Jessica A Davis and D Kavindi Weerasinghe and Julie A Pasco},
journal = {Bipolar disorders},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1111/bdi.70192},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42897866},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Women With Bipolar Disorder are at Increased Risk of Sarcopenia.
AU - Lana J Williams
AU - Amanda L Stuart
AU - Michael Berk
AU - Shae E Quirk
AU - Emma C West
AU - Heli Koivumaa-Honkanen
AU - Risto Honkanen
AU - Jeremi Heikkinen
AU - Jessica A Davis
AU - D Kavindi Weerasinghe
AU - Julie A Pasco
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Bipolar disorders
DO - 10.1111/bdi.70192
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42897866
AB - Introduction While bipolar disorder is associated with significant comorbidity, little is known about the musculoskeletal health of individuals with bipolar disorder. Thus, we aimed to investigate the association between bipolar disorder and muscle strength, mass, quality and sarcopenia.Methods Women with bipolar disorder (n = 106) were recruited from healthcare settings and age-matched to controls (n = 300), without bipolar disorder, from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study. Both groups, aged ≥ 20 years. were drawn from South-Eastern Australia. Bipolar disorder was identified using a clinical interview (SCID-I/NP). Maximum handgrip strength (HGS) was measured using a Jamar dynamometer, appendicular lean mass (ALM) using a Lunar densitometer and body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) was calculated. Foundation for the National Institute of Health (FNIH) and European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) algorithms were used to determine low HGS, ALM, probable and confirmed sarcopenia. Socioeconomic status (SES) was determined and information on lifestyle obtained via questionnaire.Results Higher proportion of women with bipolar disorder met criteria for low HGS and ALM compared to those without bipolar disorder. Using FNIH and EWGSOP2 criteria, 36 (8.9%; 34 probable and 2 confirmed) and 46 (11.4%; 43 probable and 3 confirmed) women met criteria for sarcopenia, respectively. Women with bipolar disorder were twice as likely to have sarcopenia (FNIH; OR 2.24, 95% CI: 1.11-4.55 and EWGSOP2; OR 2.78, 95% CI: 1.47-5.20), independent of age, smoking, activity, alcohol, diet and SES.Conclusion These data suggest women with bipolar disorder have an increased likelihood of sarcopenia. Replication and research into underlying mechanisms are next necessary steps.
SN - 1398-5647
SN - 1399-5618
ER -