Due to its inherent nature, sickle cells constantly deprive the developing brain of oxygen and possibly affect its growth from birth
An ageing brain in people with sickle cell
disease may be responsible for cognitive problems, finds a study.
Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood
disorder characterised by the presence of abnormal haemoglobin (Hb).
People with the illness are also likely to
face trouble in remembering, focusing, learning, and problem-solving.
The patients face these conditions even
without brain stroke. To understand, researchers and physicians from Washington
University School of Medicine in St. Louis examined more than 200 young adults
with and without sickle cell disease.
They participated in brain MRI scans and
cognitive tests. Each person's brain age was calculated using a brain-age
prediction tool that was developed using MRI brain scans from a diverse group
of more than 14,000 healthy people of known ages.
The estimated brain age was compared with
the individual's actual age. The results, published in JAMA Network Open,
showed that participants with sickle cell disease had brains that appeared an
average of 14 years older than their actual age.
Sickle cell participants with older-looking
brains also scored lower on cognitive tests.
Further, the study showed that people
experiencing economic deprivation, who struggle to meet basic needs, even in
the absence of sickle cell disease, also had more-aged-appearing brains, the
team said.
On average, a seven-year gap was found
between the brain age and the participants' actual age in healthy individuals
experiencing poverty.
“Sickle cell disease is congenital,
chronically depriving the developing brain of oxygen and possibly affecting its
growth from birth.
Also, children exposed to long-term
economic deprivation and poverty experience cognitive challenges that affect
their academic performance,” explained Andria Ford, Professor of neurology at
Washington University Medicine.
The study calls for understanding the
influence that sickle cell disease and economic deprivation have on brain
structure. This may lead to treatments and preventive measures that potentially
could preserve cognitive function.
The team also noted that a single MRI scan
can be a powerful tool for helping patients with neurological conditions.
No comments:
Post a Comment