Researchers find increased risk of memory problems in children with eczema

Researchers estimate that between 15% and 20% of children around the world have atopic dermatitis, Medical News Today reported.

Also known as eczema, this chronic disorder causes the skin to become dry, itchy, red, and irritated.

Past studies have shown that children who have atopic dermatitis have an increased risk for other conditions such as asthma, skin infections, and food allergies.

Additionally, researchers have linked eczema in children to a higher incidence of neurodevelopmental conditions, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, and learning disabilities.

In a study recently published in the journal JAMA Dermatology, researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Maryland provide more evidence linking eczema to cognitive impairment—such as learning and memory difficulties—in children.

The scientists reported children with atopic dermatitis were more likely to experience difficulties with learning and memory than those without the disease.

They also reported that children with eczema had a two-fold to three-fold greater risk of memory difficulties if they also had a neurodevelopmental disorder such as ADHD or learning disabilities.

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