title: Thalamus volume and ambulation in multiple sclerosis: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This cross-sectional study examined if subcortical gray matter (SGM) structures accounted for differences in timed 25-foot walk (T25FW) speed between multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects underwent brain MRI and completed the T25FW. Volumes of the thalamus, caudate, putamen and pallidum were calculated from 3D T1-weighted structural brain images. T2 lesion volume (T2LV) was determined by using a semiautomated edge detection contouring-thresholding technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were differences in T25FW speed, SGM volumes and T2LV between MS and controls. T25FW speed was associated with SGM volumes and T2LV in MS and controls. Thalamic volume partially accounted for the difference in T25FW speed between the MS and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reduction of thalamus volume is associated with compromised ambulation in MS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology & Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Motl
authors.affiliation: Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA.|MR Imaging Clinical Translational Research Center, School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zivadinov
authors.affiliation: Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA.|IRCCS 'Santa Maria Nascente', Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bergsland
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA.
authors.forename: Ralph H B
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Benedict
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005917:Globus Pallidus / Q000473:pathology; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011699:Putamen / Q000473:pathology; D013788:Thalamus / Q000473:pathology*; D016138:Walking
keywords: MRI; imaging; multiple sclerosis; thalamus; walking