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Updated: Feb 18, 2026

Near Infrared NIr Light Increases Expression of a Marker of Mitochondrial Function in the Mouse Vestibular Sensory Epithelium
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The medial vestibular nuclei, a vulnerable target in thiamine deficiency

Jorge C Kattah1, Cindy Guede2, Bahareh Hassanzadeh2

  • 1Illinois Neurologic Institute, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, USA. kattahj@uicomp.uic.edu.

Journal of Neurology
|November 17, 2017
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Thiamine deficiency can cause acute vestibular failure by affecting the medial vestibular nuclei (MVN). Early thiamine and diet replacement can restore vestibular function and MRI signals.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neuroscience
  • Ophthalmology

Background:

  • Thiamine deficiency commonly affects the bilateral medial vestibular nuclei (MVN), leading to acute vestibular failure.
  • Wernicke's encephalopathy, a condition associated with thiamine deficiency, frequently shows MVN involvement in autopsy studies.

Observation:

  • A single case study examined a patient with acute thiamine deficiency using serial clinical assessments, MRI, and video head impulse testing (vHIT).

Findings:

  • The patient exhibited low horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain, correlating with abnormal head impulse tests and MRI evidence of MVN compromise.
  • Vertical VOR gain was normal or mildly affected.
  • Thiamine replacement and dietary improvements normalized VOR gain and reversed MRI signal abnormalities.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the clinical-imaging correlation of symmetrical MVN damage in thiamine deficiency.
  • It demonstrates the potential for early diagnosis and intervention with thiamine and nutritional support to restore VOR function.
  • This underscores the importance of considering thiamine deficiency in patients presenting with vestibular dysfunction.
Keywords:
Medial vestibular nucleusThiamine deficiencyVestibular loss

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