Atrophy of spared subcortical nuclei relates to worse post-stroke sensorimotor outcomes across 28 cohorts worldwide

Objective: To identify associations between atrophy of spared subcortical nuclei and sensorimotor behavior at different timepoints after stroke. Methods: We pooled high-resolution T1-weighted MRI brain scans and behavioral data in 828 individuals with unilateral stroke from 28 cohorts worldwide. Cross-sectional analyses using linear mixed-effects models related post-stroke sensorimotor behavior to non-lesioned subcortical volumes. We analyzed subacute (≤90 days) and chronic (≥180 days) stroke; sub-analyses in chronic stroke were performed on class of sensorimotor deficit (impairment, activity limitations) and side of lesioned hemisphere, with exploratory analyses in early stroke (≤21 days) and across all time (Bonferroni-corrected, p