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Structural brain changes related to disease duration in patients with asthma
Andreas von Leupoldt1, Stefanie Brassen, Hans Jörg Baumann
1Department of Psychology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany. andreas.vonleupoldt@uni-hamburg.de
Plos One
|September 3, 2011
Summary
Longer asthma duration is linked to brain changes in the brainstem periaqueductal grey (PAG). Increased PAG gray matter volume may reduce the perception of shortness of breath (dyspnea) in asthma patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Respiratory Medicine
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Dyspnea is a primary symptom of asthma, crucial for treatment initiation.
- Reduced perception of dyspnea negatively impacts asthma treatment outcomes.
- Brain mechanisms underlying dyspnea perception in asthma are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate structural brain changes in asthma patients related to disease duration.
- To examine associations between brain structure and perceived dyspnea.
- Focus on the insular cortex and brainstem periaqueductal grey (PAG).
Main Methods:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and voxel-based morphometry (VBM).
- Analysis of gray matter volumes in the insular cortex and PAG.
- Correlation with asthma duration and perceived dyspnea unpleasantness.
Main Results:
- Longer asthma duration correlated with increased gray matter volume in the PAG.
- No significant association found between asthma duration and insular cortex gray matter.
- Increased PAG gray matter volume was linked to reduced perception of dyspnea unpleasantness.
Conclusions:
- Increased disease duration in mild-to-moderate asthma is associated with structural brain changes in the brainstem PAG.
- These PAG changes may contribute to reduced dyspnea perception in some asthma patients.
- Altered brain structure could negatively affect asthma treatment outcomes.
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