Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited hemoglobinopathy that can cause organ dysfunction such as cerebral vasculopathy and neurological complications. We explored whether SCD may be also associated with abnormalities in hippocampal subregions. We analyzed 7T MRI images from individuals with SCD and matched controls. Individuals with SCD had a significantly smaller volume of the DG+CA2+CA3 hippocampal region. Other hippocampal subregions also showed a trend towards smaller volumes in the SCD group. Further studies are necessary to investigate the mechanisms that lead to structural changes in the hippocampus subfields and their relationship with cognitive performance in SCD.
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