Structural and functional changes in the higher cortical regions brain due to chronic refractory cough

Chronic cough is well known to hamper the psychological and social aspects of quality of life of a patient. Extensive research on chronic cough shows that the main neurobiological mechanism associated with chronic cough is loss of inhibitory control.

A group of researchers set out to understand if structural and functional changes related to chronic cough occur in higher cortical brain regions.

The findings of the above study open new avenues for research into strategies targeting the cognitive aspects of chronic coughing.

Reference: Namgung E, Song WJ, Kim YH, et al. Structural and functional correlates of higher cortical brain regions in chronic refractory cough. Chest. 2022;S0012–3692(22)00884–00894.