Asthma patients commonly experience mental health issues. But the hidden molecular ties between asthma and brain dysfunction have not been widely studied, until now.
Having asthma means that your lung airways become inflamed and narrowed, this inflammation, within the lung, restrict the air flow, making it difficult to breathe. This chronic condition affects nearly 3 million Australians, often leading to associated mental health issues.
There’s plenty of research about the gut-brain connection – but what about the lung-brain connection? Can lung inflammation caused by respiratory issues, such as asthma, change our brain? The short answer is yes.
Dr Eslam Bastawy and Dr Craig Smith from Deakin University’s Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT) are leading research into how asthma can affect the brain.
Their research aims to provide insight into the lung-brain connection by exploring the molecular ties between lung inflammation and brain dysfunction.
The study builds upon previous research that highlights the link between asthma and mental health. This latest research delves deeper into the genetic changes occurring in the hypothalamus – the control centre of the brain that helps regulate essential functions such as hunger, thirst, sleep, and mood.
‘This study is the first of its kind to explore how the lungs communicating with the brain can impact mental health. Our work may help to inform mental health treatments for individuals with respiratory conditions,’ Dr Bastawy says.
The lung-brain connection
Through extensive brain testing, Dr Bastawy and the team discovered that asthma –leads to brain inflammation, which is associated with changes in the brain’s expression of genes – the process in which information from a gene is used to carry out a specific function in the brain.
‘Our research showed those with asthmatic lungs can experience cause systemic changes in the the blood and brain. This process can increase or suppress gene expression within the hypothalamus. These gene changes are associated with mental health disorders.’
‘We found that certain genes in the brain’s hypothalamus, which help the brain cells communicate, were less active. For example, genes that affect how signals are processed and those involved in regulating mood showed reduced activity. ‘
‘We also noticed changes in genes related to a chemical messenger called acetylcholine, and in channels that control the movement of potassium ions in and out of cells. These changes are linked to feelings of depression and anxiety.’
‘These findings suggest that asthma has far-reaching effects beyond the lungs, and health professionals needs to consider mental health implications when assessing patients with respiratory conditions. One promising approach involves identifying novel molecular targets in the brain triggered by lung inflammation, which can drive mental health problems’, Dr. Bastawy says.
‘Another favourable course is the exploration of novel targets in the periphery, potentially targeting the lungs. While this is still an area of ongoing investigation, preliminary reports have shown promising results, indicating that targeting inflammation in the periphery may indeed have a positive impact on mental health’
Improving mental health care for people with asthma
Dr. Bastawy and the team emphasise the need for healthcare professionals to change how they think about asthma and other respiratory conditions.
‘Healthcare professionals should consider the mental health of their patients presenting with asthma. This may include offering frequent mental health assessments and potentially putting other preventative measures in place.’
‘It’s important healthcare professionals understand the link between asthma and mental health so that they can provide the best possible information and treatments to their patients’ Dr. Bastawy says.
These findings help us better understand lung–brain pathway and are critical to future drug discovery and treatment to improve mental health for people with respiratory conditions.
‘This work may also help us better understand how COVID-19 and other diseases associated with lung inflammation negatively influence the brain,’ Dr Bastawy says.
