Neurocognitive function in patients with β-thalassemia major

Background: Children with β-thalassemia major (β-TM) have multiple risk factors for developing cognitive impairment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate cognitive function in patients with β-TM. Methods: Twenty children with β-TM were enrolled into the study and were compared with a control group consisting of 21 healthy children. All participants were evaluated with neuropsychological tests and event-related potentials (ERP). Results: All of the participants had normal IQ scores, but the patient group had significantly lower full-scale, performance, and verbal IQs compared with the control group (P