Childhood asthma may interfere with the development of memory and executive function skills like attention and problem-solving, according to recent research.

For the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 11,800 children aged 9 to 12. The 474 with asthma — especially those who developed it earlier in life — faced more challenges with executive function and memory. These included episodic memory, which involves recalling specific events or details. Children with asthma also showed slower processing speed — how quickly they could understand and respond to information — and had more difficulty maintaining focus and attention compared to children without asthma.

Researchers suggested some reasons children with asthma may develop cognitive issues. Among these, they discussed whether inflammation might affect the brain or whether low oxygen during asthma attacks could impact brain development.

Controlling Your Child’s Asthma Can Help

Asthma can affect a child’s health in many ways — not only through physical symptoms like wheezing or shortness of breath but also by impacting emotional well-being and cognitive development. Managing asthma effectively may help reduce these risks.

If you’re the parent or caregiver of a child with asthma, consider working closely with healthcare providers to ensure your child’s asthma is well controlled, discuss strategies to minimize triggers, and explore ways to support learning and memory skills. This can include addressing inflammation, optimizing oxygen levels, and reducing stress, all of which may contribute to better cognitive health.

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Find Your Team

On MyAsthmaTeam, the social network for people living with asthma and their loved ones, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with asthma.

Do you care for a child with asthma who experiences memory or attention challenges? How has it affected them? Have you found ways to help manage symptoms and support your child? Share your tips and experiences in a comment below, or start a conversation on your Activities page.