Summary: A recent UC Davis study finds a link between childhood asthma and poorer memory performance, particularly in episodic memory. The research shows that children with asthma scored lower on memory tests than peers without asthma, and that earlier onset of asthma was associated with slower memory development over a two-year period.
The findings suggest that asthma — potentially through chronic inflammation, repeated oxygen disruption, or treatment effects — may influence cognitive development in children. The possible long-term implications, including an elevated risk for memory-related disorders later in life, highlight the need for early monitoring and further study.
Key Facts:
- Children with asthma scored lower on episodic memory measures compared with children without asthma.
- Earlier onset of asthma was associated with slower improvements in memory across a two-year follow-up.
- Potential contributors to memory difficulties include sustained inflammation, intermittent reductions in oxygen during attacks, and medication effects on brain structures involved in memory.
Source: UC Davis
Asthma is associated with memory difficulties in children, and early onset of asthma may exacerbate those deficits, according to a new study from the University of California, Davis.
Published on Nov. 5 in JAMA Network Open, this study is the first large-scale investigation linking childhood asthma with measurable differences in memory performance. The research focused on episodic memory, the ability to recall specific events, contexts, and the emotions tied to those experiences — a fundamental component of how we remember our personal histories.
“This study underscores the importance of looking at asthma as a potential source of cognitive difficulty in children,” said Simona Ghetti, professor of psychology at the UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain. “We are increasingly aware that chronic conditions — not only asthma but also diabetes and heart disease — can place children at higher risk for cognitive challenges.”
The study team emphasizes the need to identify factors that worsen or protect against these risks so clinicians and caregivers can intervene early.
Connecting asthma to memory in children
Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition characterized by airway inflammation and episodes of breathing difficulty. Worldwide, it affects hundreds of millions of people, and in the United States approximately 4.6 million children live with the condition.
“Childhood is a period of rapid cognitive development, including substantial gains in memory,” said Nicholas Christopher-Hayes, the study’s first author and a Ph.D. candidate in psychology at UC Davis. “In children with asthma, that typical rate of improvement may be blunted.”
The analysis drew on data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, a large, ongoing NIH-funded project that began enrollment in 2015. For the cross-sectional portion, researchers examined 2,062 children aged 9 to 10 who either had a history of asthma or did not. For a longitudinal subanalysis, 473 children were followed over two years to assess changes in memory development.
Episodic memory was the primary outcome. After matching children with and without asthma on demographic and health characteristics, the team found that those with asthma showed lower episodic memory scores. In the two-year follow-up, children with earlier asthma onset — and thus a longer duration of the condition — demonstrated slower memory improvement compared with matched peers.
To strengthen causal inferences, the researchers accounted for a range of background variables so the observed differences are more likely to reflect asthma-related effects rather than socioeconomic or demographic disparities.
Avoiding long-term consequences of asthma
Researchers warn that cognitive differences observed in childhood could have enduring consequences. Prior studies in older adults and animal models have linked asthma or chronic respiratory problems to higher risks of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, conditions marked by significant memory loss.
“Asthma might set children on a developmental path that increases the likelihood of memory-related problems later in life,” Christopher-Hayes said.
While this study did not determine the precise mechanism behind the memory differences, the team discussed several plausible contributors: ongoing systemic inflammation associated with asthma, intermittent reductions in oxygen supply during severe attacks, and possible effects of asthma medications on brain regions such as the hippocampus, which is critical for episodic memory.
Animal research has shown that some common asthma treatments can influence hippocampal structure and function, suggesting a potential pathway by which treatment or the disease process itself could affect memory systems.
Additional authors on the paper include Sarah C. Haynes, Nicholas J. Kenyon, Julie B. Schweitzer, and Vidya Merchant, all affiliated with UC Davis.
Funding: The study received support from the Memory and Plasticity Program at UC Davis and from a Learning, Memory, and Plasticity Training Program Fellowship funded by the National Institutes of Health.
About this neurodevelopment and memory research news
Author: Andrew Fell
Source: UC Davis
Contact: Andrew Fell, UC Davis
Image: Image credit: Neuroscience News
Original Research: Asthma and Memory Function in Children, Simona Ghetti et al., JAMA Network Open (open access)
Abstract
Asthma and Memory Function in Children
Importance
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease affecting approximately 5 million children in the United States. Animal models have suggested that asthma may impair memory, but evidence in children has been limited.
Objective
To evaluate whether childhood asthma is associated with lower memory performance in children.
Design, Setting, and Participants
This cohort study analyzed observational data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, a multisite longitudinal investigation that began enrollment in 2015. About 11,800 children aged 9 to 10 years were enrolled at baseline with follow-up at one and two years. Participants were selected to assess both cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between asthma and memory.
Exposures
Asthma status was determined from parent reports. For longitudinal analysis, children were grouped by asthma onset: earlier childhood onset (present at baseline and at two-year follow-up), later childhood onset (present at two-year follow-up only), or no history of asthma. Cross-sectional analyses compared children with any asthma history to matched children without asthma.
Main Outcomes and Measures
The primary outcome was episodic memory. Secondary outcomes included processing speed, inhibition, and attention.
Results
In the longitudinal sample (n=474), children with earlier asthma onset showed smaller gains in episodic memory over two years compared with matched peers. In the cross-sectional sample (n=2,062), children with asthma scored lower on episodic memory, processing speed, and measures of inhibition and attention after controlling for covariates.
Conclusions and Relevance
This cohort study indicates that asthma is associated with memory difficulties in children. Earlier onset of asthma may intensify these effects and extend to aspects of executive function, underscoring the importance of monitoring cognitive development in children with chronic respiratory conditions.