November 13, 2024, 10:08 am | Read time: 5 minutes
Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, or a feeling of tightness in the chest: All these symptoms can indicate asthma. And apparently, the condition affects not only the airways but also the brains of children. American scientists recently discovered that this chronic lung disease influences both children’s memory and cognitive abilities–FITBOOK editor Sophie Brünke reports.
Researchers at the University of California were the first to investigate whether childhood asthma is associated with poorer memory and reduced cognitive abilities. Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children, affecting an estimated 262 million people worldwide. In Germany, about 10 to 15 percent of children are affected. This is reason enough to take a closer look at the impacts and consequences of the disease.
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Overview
Over 2,000 elementary school children examined
The study authors used data from the “Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study,” a large national longitudinal study on brain development and child health in the U.S. They conducted both a cross-sectional analysis using data from 2,062 children and a longitudinal analysis with a sample of 473 children. At the start, the children were nine to ten years old, and the follow-up period was two years.
In the cross-sectional analysis, the researchers focused on children with asthma whose parents reported asthma indicators at any point during the follow-up. In the longitudinal analysis, they included time points for which both asthma and cognitive performance indicators were available. They also differentiated between children whose parents reported asthma indicators at the beginning and end of the follow-up period (group with early childhood onset) and children whose parents first reported asthma indicators after the two-year follow-up (group with later childhood onset).
The control groups for both analyses consisted of participants from the ABCD study who did not have asthma. The main focus of the investigation was the children’s episodic memory.
Episodic memory stores autobiographical knowledge, such as information about oneself, experiences, and emotions, including events and the people and objects involved. Semantic memory, on the other hand, is responsible for facts. It contains learned knowledge, such as from school, which is independent of specific events.
Children performed three different tests
As part of the ABCD study, various cognitive measurements were conducted. These include:
- Picture Sequence Memory Test, tests episodic memory by assessing how well children can remember arbitrary sequences of objects
- Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test, evaluates the processing speed of pairs of object images
- Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test, measures response inhibition and attention by having participants select a matching directional arrow from a series
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Asthma increased the risk of memory problems
The study showed that children with asthma performed worse on episodic memory tests than children without asthma. In the longitudinal analysis with 473 children observed over two years, it was found that children with an earlier asthma attack, who had the disease for a longer period, also showed slower memory development over time.
Lead author of the study, Simona Ghetti, explains in a university statement: “This study highlights the importance of considering asthma as a potential cause of cognitive problems in children. We are becoming increasingly aware that chronic diseases, not just asthma, but also diabetes, heart disease, and others, can pose an increased risk of cognitive problems in children.”
Mechanism is unknown
Ghetti points out, however, that it is important to understand the risk-enhancing factors in order to counteract them specifically. The present study did not investigate how asthma might cause memory problems. Possible factors mentioned by the scientists include prolonged inflammation due to asthma or repeated disruptions of the brain’s oxygen supply due to asthma attacks. The authors also refer to previous research with rodents, where common asthma medications had a measurable effect on the hippocampus in the brain. This brain region also plays an important role in episodic memory in humans.
Cognitive impairments could be a consequence in old age
The memory deficits in children could have long-term consequences. Ghetti’s colleague Hayes explains: “Asthma can take a course in children that increases their risk of developing a more serious disease like dementia later as adults.” Previous studies with older adults and animals have linked asthma to a higher risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s, both of which impair memory.
Study classification
The present study did not use medical records but relied on parental reports. Therefore, neither the severity of the asthma nor the exact onset of the disease could be determined. However, the asthma indicators from the ABCD study have been confirmed in other studies. Furthermore, the researchers did not collect data on whether prescription asthma medications were taken and how these affected cognition. Additionally, the ABCD study primarily investigated neurocognitive developments and was not optimally designed to examine the connections between asthma and memory. Since animal studies suggest a significant influence of medications, future studies should consider their dosage and frequency of use.