CHILDREN with asthma, especially those with early onset, showed slower episodic memory development and lower scores in memory and executive function tests compared to peers without asthma. This study assessed the cognitive impacts of asthma in a sample of 474 children from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, a longitudinal cohort analysis beginning in 2015 with approximately 11,800 children aged 9 to 10 years. Asthma status was determined through parental reports and categorized into groups based on the onset of asthma (earlier versus later in childhood) and whether asthma was present at any observed time point.
To investigate the relationship between asthma and cognitive performance, researchers analysed both longitudinal data over two years and cross-sectional data at one specific point. Among the longitudinal group of 474 children, 135 with early asthma onset displayed reduced memory improvement rates compared to the non-asthmatic group, with a statistically significant association (β = −0.17; 95% CI, −0.28 to −0.05; P = .01). The cross-sectional analysis, involving 2,062 children, showed that those with asthma performed lower on episodic memory (β = −0.09; 95% CI, −0.18 to −0.01; P = .04), processing speed (β = −0.13; 95% CI, −0.22 to −0.03; P = .01), and inhibition and attention tasks (β = −0.11; 95% CI, −0.21 to −0.02; P = .02). These results suggest a significant association between asthma exposure and compromised cognitive functions in children.
These findings underscore the importance of recognizing the potential cognitive impact of asthma, especially when symptoms appear earlier in childhood. The study’s results may have direct implications for clinical practice, indicating that children with asthma may benefit from regular cognitive assessments as part of their healthcare. Early identification of cognitive impacts could inform targeted interventions to support memory and executive function development. Future studies are recommended to explore specific mechanisms linking asthma to cognitive outcomes and assess whether asthma management strategies could mitigate these effects.
Reference
Christopher-Hayes NJ et al. Asthma and memory function in children. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(11):e2442803.
