Early-onset asthma worsens memory and executive function in children: JAMA

Asthma status was established through parent reports, while primary outcomes focused on episodic memory. Secondary outcomes assessed processing speed, attention, and inhibition abilities, which are crucial components of executive function. In the longitudinal analysis involved 474 children, the ones with earlier-onset asthma expressed significantly slower progress in memory development when compared to their peers without asthma. Also, the data indicated that these children had a lower rate of memory improvement over time (β = −0.17, P = .01). The group breakdown showed diverse racial representation, with 56% of the earlier-onset group being male and notable proportions identifying as Black, Hispanic, or White.

The cross-sectional analysis included 2,062 children which reinforced these findings. Children with asthma (n = 1,031) scored lower on episodic memory (β = −0.09, P = .04), processing speed (β = −0.13, P = .01), and executive functions related to inhibition and attention (β = −0.11, P = .02). Demographics revealed that the asthma group had a higher male ratio (57%) and a balanced racial distribution.

Overall, this comprehensive study underlined the potential cognitive toll that asthma may exert on children, particularly the ones with an early onset. These findings point to the importance of early cognitive assessments and targeted interventions for children with asthma to support better educational and developmental outcomes.

Source:

Christopher-Hayes, N. J., Haynes, S. C., Kenyon, N. J., Merchant, V. D., Schweitzer, J. B., & Ghetti, S. (2024). Asthma and Memory Function in Children. In JAMA Network Open (Vol. 7, Issue 11, p. e2442803). American Medical Association (AMA). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.42803