Neurocognitive functioning and magnetic resonance imaging in children withsickle gels disease

Objective: To examine neurocognitive functioning in children classified wit h overt cerebral vascular accidents (CVAs), silent infarcts, or without cen tral nervous system (CNS) pathology on magnetic resonance imaging. Methods: Participants were 63 children and adolescents with sickle cell dis ease (SCD). Results: Children with overt CVAs and silent infarcts differed from their p eers without CNS pathology on measures of attention and executive functioni ng. Conclusions: We consider these deficits the result of the high frequency of frontal lobe deficits incurred by children with SCD. Recommendations inclu de the use of tests designed to measure attention and executive functioning as a way of screening children with SCD for possible CNS pathology. We als o suggest that future research examine the mechanism underlying frontal lob e involvement for individuals with SCD.