Asthma, the central nervous system, and neurocognition: Current findings, potential mechanisms, and treatment implications

Juliet L Kroll; Thomas Ritz

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105063

Asthma, the central nervous system, and neurocognition: Current findings, potential mechanisms, and treatment implications

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2023 Mar:146:105063. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105063. Epub 2023 Jan 25.

Authors

Juliet L Kroll¹, Thomas Ritz²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA; Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: jlkroll@mdanderson.org.
² Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA.

PMID: 36708797
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105063

Abstract

Accumulating behavioral evidence suggests that asthma is associated with cognitive deficits. A number of studies have identified potential biological contributions to cognition in asthma; however, mechanistic pathways of central nervous system (CNS) involvement in asthma are yet to be established. We therefore conducted a literature review to identify studies examining potential CNS contributions to cognition in asthma. In this review, we discuss our general understanding of the CNS in asthma in the context of cognitive performance and outline a working model of mechanistic pathways linking the proposed neural influences of asthma pathology with cognition. To this extent, we incorporate neural, behavioral, psychological, social and environmental factors. Finally, we underscore the clinical significance of the CNS and neurocognitive sequelae in asthma, highlighting potential opportunities for routine monitoring, therapeutic intervention, and recommend key areas for future research.

Keywords: Asthma; Brain; Central nervous system; Cognitive function.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Central Nervous System
Cognition / physiology
Cognition Disorders* / psychology
Cognitive Dysfunction*
Humans