Quote Originally Posted by yoitsdan View Post
I know this isn't pugilistic dementia but I thinks there's some correlation with this thread. Frank Bruno and my dad both suffer from a form of depression called bipolar syndrome, my dad boxed 42 amateur fights over 7 years, and I wonder if there's any link. Bipolar is caused by irregular levels of serotonin and dopamine being released at different times, causing over-happiness followed by crushing 'downers' that last much longer. Any insights?
I don't know the answer to that, but there is a lot of depression among well-known boxers. On the other hand these guys are often facing other problems and the rate of depression in the public generally is higher than is normally perceived.

I haven't over the decades seen a correlation between boxing and bipolar / manic and I tend to doubt there is one.

I have seen many cases of boxers with depression, but, as I'm sure you know, that is very different from bipolar.

A lot of the boxers with depression later expressed a need to stay away from recreational drugs. Bipolar on the other hand is not, to my knowledge directly connected to drugs, exercise or even head trauma.