New research has found that childhood asthma may take a toll on children’s cognitive development, with early onset of the condition linked to memory deficits.
The study, published Monday in JAMA Network Open, analyzed data from more than 2,000 children and showed that those who developed asthma before age 12 had lower scores on tests of episodic memory than their peers without the chronic respiratory condition.
The findings suggest the effects of asthma on the brain could have long-term implications, potentially increasing the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
Impact of Early-Onset Asthma on Cognitive Decline
Asthma is a chronic condition that affects the lungs, leading to attacks triggered by inflammation that constricts the airways, which makes breathing difficult. Approximately 4.6 million children in the United States are affected, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)….