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Updated: Jun 6, 2026
08:43
Application of Granger Causality Analysis of the Directed Functional Connection in Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: August 7, 2017
Thalamic nuclei insights into Alzheimer's disease
Julie P Vidal1,2,3, Daniel J Myall2, Jérémie Pariente3,4
1Te Kura Mahi ā-Hirikapo | School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing, University of Canterbury. Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|June 5, 2026
Summary
Alzheimer's disease (AD) impacts thalamic nuclei volume, even in preclinical stages. Thalamic volumetry using MRI offers a new biomarker for early AD detection and intervention.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Radiology
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Thalamic nuclei are crucial for cognitive functions.
- Their structural integrity in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not well understood.
- Investigating thalamic nuclei in biologically-defined AD is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the integrity of thalamic nuclei in Alzheimer's disease (AD) using amyloid status.
- To explore thalamic nuclei volumetry as a potential biomarker for AD.
- To assess the utility of thalamic nuclei in classifying cognitive status.
Main Methods:
- 1,327 participants from ADNI were categorized into six groups based on amyloid status (PET Centiloids) and clinical diagnosis.
- Thalamic nuclei volumes were quantified from T1-weighted MRI using the HIPS-THOMAS algorithm.
- Random Forest analyses were employed to evaluate the impact of thalamic nuclei on cognitive status classification.
Main Results:
- Significant volume reductions in anteroventral, mediodorsal, and pulvinar nuclei were found in amyloid-positive MCI and AD.
- Amyloid-positive cognitively normal (CN) individuals also showed reduced thalamic volumes, indicating preclinical AD.
- Integrating thalamic nuclei data improved cognitive status classification and distinguished amyloid-positive from amyloid-negative groups.
Conclusions:
- Thalamic nuclei volumetry derived from standard T1-weighted MRI provides valuable insights into AD.
- This method offers a practical biomarker for disease intervention and monitoring.
- Thalamic structural changes are evident even in the preclinical stages of AD.
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