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Hippocampal metabolites in asthma and their implications for cognitive function
Juliet L Kroll1, Ashton M Steele1, Amy E Pinkham2
1Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA.
Neuroimage. Clinical
|July 24, 2018
Summary
Asthma may alter brain chemistry in the hippocampus, impacting memory. Individuals with asthma showed lower levels of key metabolites like N-acetylaspartate (NAA), linked to cognitive function and potentially preceding memory deficits.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Respiratory Medicine
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Asthma is linked to increased cognitive impairment risk.
- Hippocampal metabolic alterations are observed in mild cognitive impairment.
- Neural correlates of memory in asthma are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate hippocampal metabolites in adults with and without asthma.
- To examine associations between asthma, hippocampal metabolites, and cognitive function.
- To explore the impact of asthma treatments on hippocampal chemistry.
Main Methods:
- Used 3-Tesla structural MRI and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS).
- Compared hippocampal volume and metabolites (NAA, Glu, Cr, MI) in 40 adults.
- Assessed cognitive function and asthma-related variables.
Main Results:
- Individuals with asthma had lower hippocampal N-acetylaspartate (NAA) than controls.
- Poorer cognitive function correlated with reduced NAA and glutamate (Glu) in all participants.
- Asthma control and medication use (bronchodilators, corticosteroids) were associated with specific metabolite level changes.
Conclusions:
- Asthma and its treatments may affect hippocampal chemistry, specifically metabolite levels.
- Reduced hippocampal metabolites in asthma patients might precede cognitive and structural deficits.
- Findings suggest a link between asthma, hippocampal metabolism, and cognitive function.
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