Characterization of Resting State Default Mode Network in Individuals with HbSS and HbSC, and Healthy Controls Using 7-Tesla Human MRI

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is complicated by accelerated brain aging and cerebrovascular complications leading to structural brain damage and altered resting state functional connectivity (RS-FC). Investigation of the Default Mode Network (DMN), the most studied of the RS-FC networks, by functional MRI may provide insight into the neurological and neuropsychiatric complications of SCD. Prior studies have largely focused on the HbSS genotype of SCD as opposed to the HbSC genotype, which accounts for 30% of the total SCD cases in the US. Both genotypes are expected to impact brain disease, but in different manner.