Anxiety and Asthma: Understanding Communication between Brain and Airway

Asthma attacks account for nearly one-third of all asthma deaths. Anxiety is a common comorbidity in asthma that is associated with poorer asthma control and decreased quality of life. Despite links between asthma attacks and anxiety, there have been few studies in the asthma field of the amygdala, the brain region that initiates anxiety. Dr. Leah Reznikov, an associate professor of physiological sciences, discusses how her research aims to tackle that considerable gab with the goal of developing new approaches to treat asthma and reduce patient deaths.