Sub-voxel Susceptibility Mapping and Machine Learning to Detect Brain Iron Deposition and Its Cognitive Relevance in Beta-Thalassemia

The authors aimed to investigate the relationship between brain iron deposition and cognitive function in patients with beta-thalassemia major (β-TM) using advanced MRI techniques and machine learning. They found that β-TM patients exhibited increased iron-related susceptibility in specific brain regions, such as the hippocampus and insula, which correlated with lower cognitive assessment scores. Their findings suggest that susceptibility-based imaging features could be valuable for understanding neurocognitive risks in this population.