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Abstract #4742

Focal thalamic degeneration is involved in PC/PCC dIsconnection and cognitive deficits of early Alzheimer's disease

Paolo Vitali 1,2 , Fulvia Palesi 3,4 , Gloria Castellazzi 4,5 , Carol Di Perri 2 , Stefano Bastianello 2,6 , Elena Sinforiani 7 , and Egidio D'Angelo 4,8

1 Brain MRI 3T Mondino Research Center, C. Mondino National Neurological Institute, Pavia, PV, Italy, 2 Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, PV, Italy, 3 Department of Physics, University of Pavia, PV, Italy, 4 Brain Connectivity Center, National Neurological Institute C. Mondino, Pavia, PV, Italy, 5 Department of Industrial and Information Engineering, University of Pavia, Pavia, PV, Italy, 6 Neuroradiology, National Neurological Institute C. Mondino, Pavia, PV, Italy, 7 Neurology, National Neurological Institute C. Mondino, Pavia, PV, Italy, 8 Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, PV, Italy, University of Pavia, Pavia, PV, Italy

The aim of this study was to test whether thalamic, other than hippocampal, degeneration is significant in early phases of Alzheimer's disease, and if it can also drive PC/PCC dysconnection and early cognitive deficits.In this study, both voxel-wise and VOI analysis demonstrated in AD and MCI a significant diffuse macrostructural (atrophy) and microstructural (^MD) degeneration of hippocampi and hippocampal-PC/PCC tracts, but only focal mild degeneration of thalami and thalamic-PC/PCC tracts. However, the most significant neuropsychological correlation in AD and was found for the right thalamic-PC/PCC tract, and degeneration of left PC/PCC correlated with atrophy of the thalamic-PC/PCC tract. As a whole, these results suggest that, although hippocampi and hippocampal-PC/PCC tracts are more significantly degenerated, focal thalamic degeneration could also drive PC/PCC disconnection and cognitive deficits in early phases of Alzheimer's disease.

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