Brain development changes seen in children with sickle cell anemia

Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA), the most common and severe form of sickle cell disease (SCD), show signs of altered development in specific regions of the brain, even in children without a history of silent or overt stroke, a new study from the U.S. reports.

Using an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that estimates a person’s “brain age” based on MRI scans, researchers found that overall brain development appeared similar to that of healthy children, but certain brain regions in those with SCA appeared “younger” than expected for their age — a sign of altered brain development.