When the central integrator disintegrates: A review of the role of the thalamus in cognition and dementia

J. Matthijs Biesbroek; Marieke G. Verhagen; Stefan van der Stigchel; Geert Jan Biessels

doi:10.1002/alz.13563

When the central integrator disintegrates: A review of the role of the thalamus in cognition and dementia

J. Matthijs Biesbroek^*
, Marieke G. Verhagen
, Stefan van der Stigchel
, Geert Jan Biessels

^*Corresponding author for this work

Diakonessenhuis Utrecht
Flanders Institute for Biotechnology
KU Leuven
University Medical Center Utrecht

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

The thalamus is a complex neural structure with numerous anatomical subdivisions and intricate connectivity patterns. In recent decades, the traditional view of the thalamus as a relay station and “gateway to the cortex” has expanded in recognition of its role as a central integrator of inputs from sensory systems, cortex, basal ganglia, limbic systems, brain stem nuclei, and cerebellum. As such, the thalamus is critical for numerous aspects of human cognition, mood, and behavior, as well as serving sensory processing and motor functions. Thalamus pathology is an important contributor to cognitive and functional decline, and it might be argued that the thalamus has been somewhat overlooked as an important player in dementia. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of thalamus anatomy and function, with an emphasis on human cognition and behavior, and discuss emerging insights on the role of thalamus pathology in dementia.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2209-2222
Number of pages	14
Journal	Alzheimer's and Dementia
Volume	20
Issue number	3
Early online date	2 Dec 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.13563
Publication status	Published - Mar 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors. Alzheimer's & Dementia published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Alzheimer's Association.

Funding

This study was supported by a Veni grant (Project 9150162010055) to JMB. GJB receives research support from TAP-dementia, a ZonMw-funded project (No. 10510032120003) in the context of the Dutch National Dementia Strategy and through Vici Grant 918.16.616 from ZonMW. This study was supported by a Veni grant (Project 9150162010055) to JMB. GJB receives research support from TAP\u2010dementia, a ZonMw\u2010funded project (No. 10510032120003) in the context of the Dutch National Dementia Strategy and through Vici Grant 918.16.616 from ZonMW.

Funders	Funder number
Veni	9150162010055, 10510032120003, 918.16.616
ZonMw

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

cognition
dementia
functional anatomy
neuroanatomy
thalamus

Access to Document

10.1002/alz.13563Licence: CC BY

Alzheimer s Dementia - 2023 - Biesbroek - When the central integrator disintegrates A review of the role of the thalamusFinal published version, 922 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{bef665cd0d6c4b2c90815cdeef9c2d89,

title = "When the central integrator disintegrates: A review of the role of the thalamus in cognition and dementia",

abstract = "The thalamus is a complex neural structure with numerous anatomical subdivisions and intricate connectivity patterns. In recent decades, the traditional view of the thalamus as a relay station and “gateway to the cortex” has expanded in recognition of its role as a central integrator of inputs from sensory systems, cortex, basal ganglia, limbic systems, brain stem nuclei, and cerebellum. As such, the thalamus is critical for numerous aspects of human cognition, mood, and behavior, as well as serving sensory processing and motor functions. Thalamus pathology is an important contributor to cognitive and functional decline, and it might be argued that the thalamus has been somewhat overlooked as an important player in dementia. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of thalamus anatomy and function, with an emphasis on human cognition and behavior, and discuss emerging insights on the role of thalamus pathology in dementia.",

keywords = "cognition, dementia, functional anatomy, neuroanatomy, thalamus",

author = "Biesbroek, \{J. Matthijs\} and Verhagen, \{Marieke G.\} and \{van der Stigchel\}, Stefan and Biessels, \{Geert Jan\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 The Authors. Alzheimer's \& Dementia published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Alzheimer's Association.",

year = "2024",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1002/alz.13563",

language = "English",

volume = "20",

pages = "2209--2222",

journal = "Alzheimer's and Dementia",

issn = "1552-5260",

publisher = "John Wiley and Sons Inc.",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - When the central integrator disintegrates

T2 - A review of the role of the thalamus in cognition and dementia

AU - Biesbroek, J. Matthijs

AU - Verhagen, Marieke G.

AU - van der Stigchel, Stefan

AU - Biessels, Geert Jan

PY - 2024/3

Y1 - 2024/3

N2 - The thalamus is a complex neural structure with numerous anatomical subdivisions and intricate connectivity patterns. In recent decades, the traditional view of the thalamus as a relay station and “gateway to the cortex” has expanded in recognition of its role as a central integrator of inputs from sensory systems, cortex, basal ganglia, limbic systems, brain stem nuclei, and cerebellum. As such, the thalamus is critical for numerous aspects of human cognition, mood, and behavior, as well as serving sensory processing and motor functions. Thalamus pathology is an important contributor to cognitive and functional decline, and it might be argued that the thalamus has been somewhat overlooked as an important player in dementia. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of thalamus anatomy and function, with an emphasis on human cognition and behavior, and discuss emerging insights on the role of thalamus pathology in dementia.

AB - The thalamus is a complex neural structure with numerous anatomical subdivisions and intricate connectivity patterns. In recent decades, the traditional view of the thalamus as a relay station and “gateway to the cortex” has expanded in recognition of its role as a central integrator of inputs from sensory systems, cortex, basal ganglia, limbic systems, brain stem nuclei, and cerebellum. As such, the thalamus is critical for numerous aspects of human cognition, mood, and behavior, as well as serving sensory processing and motor functions. Thalamus pathology is an important contributor to cognitive and functional decline, and it might be argued that the thalamus has been somewhat overlooked as an important player in dementia. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of thalamus anatomy and function, with an emphasis on human cognition and behavior, and discuss emerging insights on the role of thalamus pathology in dementia.

KW - cognition

KW - dementia

KW - functional anatomy

KW - neuroanatomy

KW - thalamus

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85178486061

U2 - 10.1002/alz.13563

DO - 10.1002/alz.13563

M3 - Review article

C2 - 38041861

AN - SCOPUS:85178486061

SN - 1552-5260

VL - 20

SP - 2209

EP - 2222

JO - Alzheimer's and Dementia

JF - Alzheimer's and Dementia

IS - 3

ER -

When the central integrator disintegrates: A review of the role of the thalamus in cognition and dementia

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this