Recent studies have pointed to neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and neurotrophic factors as mediators of the pathophysiology of mood disorders. However, little is known about the biological cascade of events underlying cognitive impairment in the acute and stable phases of bipolar disorder. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between potential cognitive impairment and inflammatory biomarkers, oxidative stress, and neurotrophic factor biological activity. To address this situation, Isabelle E. Bauer, PhD, of the University of Texas, et al. conducted a study showing that high levels of peripheral inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, and reduced levels of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) were associated with lower cognitive performance. The findings were recently published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research. Papers related to inflammatory markers and cognitive function in bipolar disorder as of December 2013 were searched using the Scopus, Pubmed, and Ovid Medline databases. Search terms included bipolar disorder, depression, mania, psychosis, inflammatory response, cognition, and neurotrophic factors. A total of 10 papers that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were retrieved based on the literature. The findings showed that high levels of peripheral inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress and reduced levels of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) were associated with lower cognitive performance. And BDNF val66met is a potential susceptibility factor for cognitive impairment in bipolar disorder. From this study, the current data provide preliminary evidence for a link between cognitive decline in bipolar disorder and neuroinflammation and neuroprotective effects. Specific inflammatory markers and inflammatory response gene diversity may contribute to therapeutic interventions for bipolar disorder.