A new study suggests that asthma, a common chronic respiratory condition in children, may be linked to memory problems. Published in JAMA Network Open, this is the first research to show a connection between childhood asthma and cognitive deficits, specifically in memory. According to the findings, children with asthma might experience slower development in memory-related skills, potentially impacting long-term cognitive health.
“This study underscores the importance of looking at asthma as a potential source of cognitive difficulty in children,” said Simona Ghetti, senior researcher and professor of psychology at the University of California-Davis Center for Mind and Brain. “We are becoming increasingly aware that chronic diseases, not only asthma but also diabetes and heart disease, may place children at increased risk of cognitive difficulties,” Ghetti added. The study shows the need to better understand the factors that could either exacerbate or protect against such risks.
Researchers analysed data from over 2,000 children aged 9 and 10 with asthma across the United States, where approximately 4.6 million children live with this respiratory condition. During childhood, cognitive functions, including memory, typically undergo rapid development.
However, Nicholas Christopher-Hayes, the study’s lead researcher and a doctoral candidate in psychology at UC Davis, found that children with asthma tend to score lower on tests of episodic memory—a type of memory assoc.
