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News • Genomics
Chronic cough: study points to neurological mechanisms
A new genetic study has identified neurological mechanisms as key drivers of chronic cough.
The findings significantly advance our biological understanding of the condition, shedding light on potential avenues for new treatments.
Chronic cough, typically defined as a cough lasting for longer than eight weeks, affects approximately 1 in 10 adults in the UK. In many cases there is no identifiable cause, and effective treatment options are currently limited. Chronic cough can severely impact quality of life, often causing fatigue, breathlessness, disturbed sleep, and emotional distress. For many, it becomes a debilitating condition that disrupts everyday life and social interactions.
Now, a team at the University of Leicester, working with researchers from the University of Copenhagen and Queen Mary University of London, has conducted the first study of its kind to investigate the genetics of chronic cough. Their findings have just been published in the European Respiratory Journal.
Even though it is a common condition, its genetic basis has remained understudied until now
Kayesha Coley
The study included almost 30,000 individuals experiencing chronic cough from multiple population health resources including the UK Biobank, EXCEED Study, the Copenhagen Hospital Biobank, Genes & Health and the eMERGE Network. As the largest and most diverse genetic study of chronic cough to date, researchers uncovered genes involved in neuronal signalling and sensory pathways, revealing a neurological basis for the condition. The findings advance our understanding of cough reflex hypersensitivity as a nervous system-mediated process and open up opportunities for the development of new targeted treatments.
Additionally, the study revealed shared genetics between chronic cough and chronic pain, suggesting shared neurological mechanisms. This insight offers a promising foundation for future research studies and could help inform effective strategies for managing both conditions.
Dr Kayesha Coley, from the University of Leicester’s Genetic Epidemiology group, who led the study, said: “We are very excited to publish the first large-scale genetic study of chronic cough. Even though it is a common condition, its genetic basis has remained understudied until now. Our study represents a major step forward for understanding the biological mechanisms underlying the condition, and we hope it will inform future drug developments. We are incredibly grateful to all the participants across the contributing studies who have made this important research possible.”
Scientific Director of the EXCEED Study, Dr Catherine John, from the University of Leicester, said: “We are really pleased that EXCEED has been able to contribute to this study, which provides the first genetic insights into chronic cough with the aim of helping to develop future treatments.”
Dr Chiara Batini, who supervised the study at the University of Leicester, added: “We are very grateful to all the collaborators of this interdisciplinary study. The insights from clinicians were invaluable to provide the right context to combine different manifestations of chronic cough and increase the power for our genetic analyses. The data shared from all collaborators allowed us to perform the largest and most diverse study to date.”
Source: University of Leicester
31.07.2025
