Global Aging & Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder (GAGE-BD): Building a Global Consortium Benefiting People with Bipolar Disorder in Later Life

Melis Orhan, Laura Montejo, Martha Sajatovic, Lisa Eyler, Annemiek Dols

Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2025 May;27(5):231-238. doi: 10.1007/s11920-025-01593-w. Epub 2025 Mar 11.

Purpose of review: Findings from the Global Aging & Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder (GAGE-BD) project, including sociodemographic and clinical information from older age bipolar disorder (OABD) and healthy participants around the globe (approximately N = 5000) were reviewed. Data was collected in multiple waves to create a large integrated dataset.

Recent findings: BD does not seem to fade with age. BD subtype and early/late onset did not show significant differences in daily functioning. Physical comorbidities were more frequent in OABD compared with controls. Women with OABD had an earlier age at onset and more psychiatric hospitalizations. GAGE-BD is the largest OABD cohort. Dataset results offer a unique and comprehensive resource for understanding the long-term trajectory of BD and the specific needs of this population. Findings are vital for guiding future research and improving care strategies for aging individuals with BD.