Work

Neurologic mechanisms regulating cough in health and disease

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Cough is a vital defensive response that can become a major clinical burden when it manifests as a persistent or hypersensitive state. Whereas acute cough is typically self-limiting, chronic cough can persist for decades, severely impacting an individual's quality of life. The neurobiology of cough involves vagal sensory neurons and complex brainstem and higher brain circuits that are responsible for the reflexive, behavioral, and cognitive regulation of cough and its accompanying sensory-related process, the urge-to-cough. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on cough neurobiology and discusses the role of heterogeneous neurologic mechanisms contributing to disordered cough in clinical settings.

Source: Annals of Allergy Asthma & Immunology

DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2026.04.005

Authors: Stuart B. Mazzone, Luis Pflaumer, Amanda Richards

Institutions: The University of Melbourne, The Royal Melbourne Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Respiratory and Cough-Related Research

Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,400