Severe type-2 asthma linked to structural brain changes

Research presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Barcelona indicates that individuals with severe type-2 asthma exhibit measurable differences in brain structure compared to those with well-controlled mild or moderate asthma.

The study, conducted by researchers from the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Bristol and City St George’s University of London, utilized advanced quasi-diffusion imaging (QDI) to examine the microscopic structure of white matter pathways. Findings revealed differences in the organization of white matter, as well as variations involving the hippocampus and temporal lobes.

Dr. George Nava noted that while asthma is primarily viewed as a lung disease, evidence suggests its effects may extend beyond the airways. The research observed that greater abnormalities in white matter were associated with higher levels of type-2 inflammation, though researchers cautioned that the study does not definitively prove that inflammation is the direct cause of these structural brain changes.