Bipolar and Dementia link

I have posed this question in the Bipolar forum, but wanted to put it in the Expert Forum for review.

My family has a history of dementia / dementia or alheizmer and apparently, bipolar, which I have been diagnosed recently (BP1).  My question after reading some information on kindling (I currently take Lamictal) is that is there a more likelihood to a person with BP having dementia?  - and if so, is it early onset, etc.?

Please advise.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

I do not know of any study that links the two in any way....they are two different processes, dementia being a purely physical tissue brain disease, and bipolar being a psychological process that is effected by brain chemistry, but not cell damage.

[cowgirlnerd]

I thought the effect of "Kindling" could lead to early onset dementia.

Is dementia genetically predisposed?  (I have a familial history on both sides).