Thalamic Subnuclear Volumetry for Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease in Postmenopausal Women

Motivation: Women are at a heightened risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) compared to men. Also, AD and aging are intrinsically interconnected to each other and are mediated by molecular, cellular and biological system. Goal(s): This study aimed to evaluate volume changes of the subcortical regions including the thalamic subnuclei in women with AD vs. postmenopausal women. Approach: Twenty-five thalamic subnuclei were extracted extracted from each hemisphere of the subject's T1 image. Results: Our findings suggest that reduced volume in both the right laterodorsal thalamic nucleus and right hippocampus could represent a key biomarker for predicting early stage of AD in postmenopausal women. Impact: These findings may be helpful for a better understanding of AD pathogenesis and also for providing an objective target for early interventions to prevent AD.