The Molecule of More

THE MOLECULE OF MORE

their mood is abnormally low and episodes of mania when it’s too high.
The latter is associated with high levels of dopamine, which shouldn’t
be surprising given the symptoms of the manic state: high energy,
euphoric mood, racing thoughts that quickly jump from one topic to
another, an abundance of activity in pursuit of many goals at once, and
excessive involvement in high-risk, pleasure-seeking activities such as
unrestrained spending and promiscuous sexual behavior.
Many people with bipolar disorder are disabled by the illness. They
are unable to hold down a job or maintain healthy relationships. Oth-
ers, typically those receiving medical treatment, are able to live normal
lives  while taking mood stabilizing medication. A  few  live  extraordinary 
lives. Worldwide, about 2.4 percent of the population has bipolar disor-
der, but it is more common among certain groups. Researchers in Ice-
land found that  people who  worked in  creative fields such as  dancing, 
acting, music, and writing were about 25 percent more likely to have
bipolar disorder compared to those with noncreative jobs. In another
study, scientists from the University of Glasgow followed over 1,800
individuals from the age of eight to their early twenties. They found
that  higher IQ  scores at  age  eight predicted greater risk  of developing 
bipolar disorder by the age of 23. Smarter brains had a greater risk of
developing a dopaminergic mental illness compared to ordinary ones.
Many famous, creative people have revealed that they live with
bipolar disorder. Among them are Francis Ford Coppola, Ray Davies,
Patty Duke, Carrie Fisher, Mel Gibson, Ernest Hemingway, Abbie
Hoffman, Patrick Kennedy, Ada Lovelace, Marilyn Monroe, Sinéad 
O’Connor, Lou Reed, Frank Sinatra, Britney Spears, Ted Turner,
Jean-Claude Van Damme, Virginia Woolf, and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
There are also many noteworthy people from the past who, based on
historical documents, are thought to have had bipolar disorder. They
include Charles Dickens, Florence Nightingale, Friedrich Nietzsche, 
and Edgar Allan Poe.
One might conceptualize the  extraordinary brain as  being simi-
lar to a high-performance sports car. It’s capable of doing incredible
things, but it breaks down easily. Dopamine drives intelligence, creativ-
ity,  and  hard work, but  it  can  also  make people behave in  bizarre ways.