Functional Connectivity Decreases with Metabolic Stress in Sickle Cell Disease.
Melanie E FieldsAmy E MirroKristin P GuilliamsMichael M BinkleyLuisa Gil DiazJessica TanSlim FellahCihat EldenizYasheng ChenAndria L FordJoshua S ShimonyAllison A KingHongyu AnChristopher D SmyserJin-Moo LeePublished in: Annals of neurology (2020)
We conclude that there is diminished functional connectivity within these anatomically contiguous networks in children with SCD compared with controls, even when differences are not seen with cognitive testing. Increased white matter oxygen extraction fraction was associated with decreased connectivity in select networks. These data suggest that elevated oxygen extraction fraction and disrupted functional connectivity are potentially presymptomatic neuroimaging biomarkers for cognitive decline in SCD. ANN NEUROL 2020;88:995-1008.