Study: Asthma may negatively impact children’s memory

A US study found that the earlier a child develops asthma, the greater the damage to their memory may be.

American scientists consider asthma as a potential source of cognitive difficulties in children, this conclusion is confirmed by the results of a study in which 473 children took part. The state of the respiratory system appears to influence children’s ability to remember details of everyday events. When testing episodic memory in 9- to 10-year-old children, researchers found that children with asthma performed lower than their peers without the disease.

Researchers suggest that asthma may affect cognitive development through factors such as chronic inflammation or lack of oxygen. Possible long-term consequences, including an increased risk of developing diseases such as dementia, highlight the importance of early monitoring.

“This study demonstrates the importance of considering asthma as a potential source of cognitive difficulties in children. We are increasingly aware that chronic diseases, not just asthma but diabetes, heart disease and others, can put children at increased risk for cognitive difficulties,” the presenter said. by Simone Getty, professor of psychology at the Mind and Brain Center at the University of California, Davis.