World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Discipline name D-Index World Ranking National Ranking Publications Citations
Neuroscience 128 296 179 418 72649
Medicine 128 2676 1494 418 72652

Leon J. Thal publications per year

The chart shows the history of publications by Leon J. Thal between 1976 and 2025, highlighting the no. of papers published in each year and offering an overview of the publication velocity of this scholar. Leon J. Thal published across 50 years, from 1976 to 2025, averaging 8.5 papers a year. Output peaked at 33 publications in 2000. 2 of the 425 publications appeared in the last two years.

No. of publications
10 20 30
Bar chart. Horizontal axis: year, 1976 to 2025. Vertical axis: number of publications, 0 to 33. Peak 33 publications in 2000. 1976: 2 publications 1977: 0 publications 1978: 3 publications 1979: 2 publications 1980: 6 publications 1981: 8 publications 1982: 1 publication 1983: 8 publications 1984: 3 publications 1985: 3 publications 1986: 7 publications 1987: 3 publications 1988: 9 publications 1989: 12 publications 1990: 11 publications 1991: 6 publications 1992: 11 publications 1993: 10 publications 1994: 16 publications 1995: 17 publications 1996: 21 publications 1997: 26 publications 1998: 19 publications 1999: 10 publications 2000: 33 publications 2001: 7 publications 2002: 21 publications 2003: 20 publications 2004: 25 publications 2005: 21 publications 2006: 31 publications 2007: 17 publications 2008: 10 publications 2009: 2 publications 2010: 2 publications 2011: 1 publication 2012: 0 publications 2013: 2 publications 2014: 0 publications 2015: 2 publications 2016: 2 publications 2017: 0 publications 2018: 1 publication 2019: 4 publications 2020: 1 publication 2021: 3 publications 2022: 2 publications 2023: 2 publications 2024: 1 publication 2025: 1 publication
1976 2025

425 publications in total across all disciplines

View publications per year as a table
Leon J. Thal: publications per year, 1976 to 2025
Year Publications
1976 2
1977 0
1978 3
1979 2
1980 6
1981 8
1982 1
1983 8
1984 3
1985 3
1986 7
1987 3
1988 9
1989 12
1990 11
1991 6
1992 11
1993 10
1994 16
1995 17
1996 21
1997 26
1998 19
1999 10
2000 33
2001 7
2002 21
2003 20
2004 25
2005 21
2006 31
2007 17
2008 10
2009 2
2010 2
2011 1
2012 0
2013 2
2014 0
2015 2
2016 2
2017 0
2018 1
2019 4
2020 1
2021 3
2022 2
2023 2
2024 1
2025 1
Total 425
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Leon J. Thal publication distribution in Neuroscience in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Neuroscience in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Leon J. Thal sits on this spectrum.

No. of scientists
100 200 300 400 500
Bar chart with 86 bars. Horizontal axis: publications, 38–47 to 887+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 539. Most scientists, 539, have 98–107 publications. The last bar groups every scientist with 887 publications or more. The highlighted bar, 418–427 publications, is where this scientist sits. 38–47 publications: 18 scientists 48–57 publications: 79 scientists 58–67 publications: 193 scientists 68–77 publications: 323 scientists 78–87 publications: 406 scientists 88–97 publications: 452 scientists 98–107 publications: 539 scientists 108–117 publications: 505 scientists 118–127 publications: 522 scientists 128–137 publications: 469 scientists 138–147 publications: 456 scientists 148–157 publications: 459 scientists 158–167 publications: 397 scientists 168–177 publications: 383 scientists 178–187 publications: 350 scientists 188–197 publications: 302 scientists 198–207 publications: 306 scientists 208–217 publications: 262 scientists 218–227 publications: 242 scientists 228–237 publications: 220 scientists 238–247 publications: 203 scientists 248–257 publications: 174 scientists 258–267 publications: 176 scientists 268–277 publications: 175 scientists 278–287 publications: 125 scientists 288–297 publications: 116 scientists 298–307 publications: 127 scientists 308–317 publications: 128 scientists 318–327 publications: 99 scientists 328–337 publications: 89 scientists 338–347 publications: 78 scientists 348–357 publications: 96 scientists 358–367 publications: 66 scientists 368–377 publications: 59 scientists 378–387 publications: 65 scientists 388–397 publications: 54 scientists 398–407 publications: 48 scientists 408–417 publications: 49 scientists 418–427 publications: 34 scientists 428–437 publications: 31 scientists 438–447 publications: 30 scientists 448–457 publications: 31 scientists 458–467 publications: 36 scientists 468–477 publications: 40 scientists 478–487 publications: 35 scientists 488–497 publications: 30 scientists 498–507 publications: 23 scientists 508–517 publications: 26 scientists 518–527 publications: 20 scientists 528–537 publications: 23 scientists 538–547 publications: 20 scientists 548–557 publications: 20 scientists 558–567 publications: 17 scientists 568–577 publications: 14 scientists 578–587 publications: 20 scientists 588–597 publications: 20 scientists 598–607 publications: 19 scientists 608–617 publications: 18 scientists 618–627 publications: 17 scientists 628–637 publications: 11 scientists 638–647 publications: 11 scientists 648–657 publications: 11 scientists 658–667 publications: 8 scientists 668–677 publications: 7 scientists 678–687 publications: 11 scientists 688–697 publications: 10 scientists 698–707 publications: 4 scientists 708–717 publications: 6 scientists 718–727 publications: 5 scientists 728–737 publications: 5 scientists 738–747 publications: 9 scientists 748–757 publications: 9 scientists 758–767 publications: 3 scientists 768–777 publications: 7 scientists 778–787 publications: 7 scientists 788–797 publications: 6 scientists 798–807 publications: 2 scientists 808–817 publications: 2 scientists 818–827 publications: 7 scientists 828–837 publications: 0 scientists 838–847 publications: 9 scientists 848–857 publications: 3 scientists 858–867 publications: 1 scientist 868–877 publications: 3 scientists 878–886 publications: 6 scientists 887+ publications: 100 scientists
38–47 publications 887+

This scientist: 418 publications — 92nd percentile

92% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 887 publications or more.

View publications distribution as a table
Number of Neuroscience scientists by publication count, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 9,597 ranked scientists.
Publications Scientists This scientist
38–47 18
48–57 79
58–67 193
68–77 323
78–87 406
88–97 452
98–107 539
108–117 505
118–127 522
128–137 469
138–147 456
148–157 459
158–167 397
168–177 383
178–187 350
188–197 302
198–207 306
208–217 262
218–227 242
228–237 220
238–247 203
248–257 174
258–267 176
268–277 175
278–287 125
288–297 116
298–307 127
308–317 128
318–327 99
328–337 89
338–347 78
348–357 96
358–367 66
368–377 59
378–387 65
388–397 54
398–407 48
408–417 49
418–427 34 418
428–437 31
438–447 30
448–457 31
458–467 36
468–477 40
478–487 35
488–497 30
498–507 23
508–517 26
518–527 20
528–537 23
538–547 20
548–557 20
558–567 17
568–577 14
578–587 20
588–597 20
598–607 19
608–617 18
618–627 17
628–637 11
638–647 11
648–657 11
658–667 8
668–677 7
678–687 11
688–697 10
698–707 4
708–717 6
718–727 5
728–737 5
738–747 9
748–757 9
758–767 3
768–777 7
778–787 7
788–797 6
798–807 2
808–817 2
818–827 7
828–837 0
838–847 9
848–857 3
858–867 1
868–877 3
878–886 6
887+ 100
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Leon J. Thal D-index placement in Neuroscience in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Neuroscience scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Leon J. Thal sits on this spectrum.

No. of scientists
100 200 300 400 500
Bar chart with 68 bars. Horizontal axis: D-Index, 30–31 to 163+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 512. Most scientists, 512, have 46–47 D-Index. The last bar groups every scientist with 163 D-Index or more. The highlighted bar, 128–129 D-Index, is where this scientist sits. 30–31 D-Index: 42 scientists 32–33 D-Index: 172 scientists 34–35 D-Index: 296 scientists 36–37 D-Index: 435 scientists 38–39 D-Index: 459 scientists 40–41 D-Index: 456 scientists 42–43 D-Index: 467 scientists 44–45 D-Index: 478 scientists 46–47 D-Index: 512 scientists 48–49 D-Index: 435 scientists 50–51 D-Index: 425 scientists 52–53 D-Index: 418 scientists 54–55 D-Index: 392 scientists 56–57 D-Index: 357 scientists 58–59 D-Index: 334 scientists 60–61 D-Index: 328 scientists 62–63 D-Index: 260 scientists 64–65 D-Index: 278 scientists 66–67 D-Index: 239 scientists 68–69 D-Index: 250 scientists 70–71 D-Index: 210 scientists 72–73 D-Index: 200 scientists 74–75 D-Index: 189 scientists 76–77 D-Index: 170 scientists 78–79 D-Index: 146 scientists 80–81 D-Index: 113 scientists 82–83 D-Index: 126 scientists 84–85 D-Index: 100 scientists 86–87 D-Index: 84 scientists 88–89 D-Index: 99 scientists 90–91 D-Index: 84 scientists 92–93 D-Index: 85 scientists 94–95 D-Index: 72 scientists 96–97 D-Index: 76 scientists 98–99 D-Index: 45 scientists 100–101 D-Index: 49 scientists 102–103 D-Index: 43 scientists 104–105 D-Index: 32 scientists 106–107 D-Index: 45 scientists 108–109 D-Index: 50 scientists 110–111 D-Index: 32 scientists 112–113 D-Index: 39 scientists 114–115 D-Index: 32 scientists 116–117 D-Index: 29 scientists 118–119 D-Index: 27 scientists 120–121 D-Index: 19 scientists 122–123 D-Index: 23 scientists 124–125 D-Index: 27 scientists 126–127 D-Index: 16 scientists 128–129 D-Index: 24 scientists 130–131 D-Index: 13 scientists 132–133 D-Index: 21 scientists 134–135 D-Index: 17 scientists 136–137 D-Index: 14 scientists 138–139 D-Index: 15 scientists 140–141 D-Index: 10 scientists 142–143 D-Index: 10 scientists 144–145 D-Index: 13 scientists 146–147 D-Index: 9 scientists 148–149 D-Index: 8 scientists 150–151 D-Index: 6 scientists 152–153 D-Index: 6 scientists 154–155 D-Index: 7 scientists 156–157 D-Index: 7 scientists 158–159 D-Index: 10 scientists 160–161 D-Index: 4 scientists 162 D-Index: 8 scientists 163+ D-Index: 100 scientists
30–31 D-Index 163+

This scientist: 128 D-Index — 97th percentile

97% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 163 D-Index or more.

View D-Index distribution as a table
Number of Neuroscience scientists by D-index, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 9,597 ranked scientists.
D-Index Scientists This scientist
30–31 42
32–33 172
34–35 296
36–37 435
38–39 459
40–41 456
42–43 467
44–45 478
46–47 512
48–49 435
50–51 425
52–53 418
54–55 392
56–57 357
58–59 334
60–61 328
62–63 260
64–65 278
66–67 239
68–69 250
70–71 210
72–73 200
74–75 189
76–77 170
78–79 146
80–81 113
82–83 126
84–85 100
86–87 84
88–89 99
90–91 84
92–93 85
94–95 72
96–97 76
98–99 45
100–101 49
102–103 43
104–105 32
106–107 45
108–109 50
110–111 32
112–113 39
114–115 32
116–117 29
118–119 27
120–121 19
122–123 23
124–125 27
126–127 16
128–129 24 128
130–131 13
132–133 21
134–135 17
136–137 14
138–139 15
140–141 10
142–143 10
144–145 13
146–147 9
148–149 8
150–151 6
152–153 6
154–155 7
156–157 7
158–159 10
160–161 4
162 8
163+ 100
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Research.com Recognitions

  • 2004 - Sedgwick Memorial Medal, American Public Health Association
  • 2004 - Potamkin Prize for Research in Pick's, Alzheimer's, and Related Diseases, American Academy of Neurology

Overview

Leon J. Thal was affiliated with the University of California, San Diego in the United States. Their academic work focused primarily on Medicine and Neuroscience, with notable contributions in Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Mental Health, Physiology, Molecular Biology, and Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Imaging.

The research topics covered by Leon J. Thal included:

  • Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
  • Alzheimer's Disease Research and Treatments
  • Neural Dynamics and Brain Function
  • Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
  • Bayesian Modeling and Causal Inference
  • Biomedical Text Mining and Ontologies

Leon J. Thal's publication record showed frequent contributions to several journals including GeroScience, Scientific Reports, Communications Medicine, Nature Aging, and Alzheimer's Research & Therapy.

Recent publications included:

  • Challenges and Opportunities with Causal Discovery Algorithms: Application to Alzheimer's Pathophysiology, 2020, Scientific Reports
  • Deep learning-based polygenic risk analysis for Alzheimer's disease prediction, 2023, Communications Medicine
  • An IL1RL1 genetic variant lowers soluble ST2 levels and the risk effects of APOE-ε4 in female patients with Alzheimer's disease, 2022, Nature Aging
  • The trend of disruption in the functional brain network topology of Alzheimer's disease, 2022, Scientific Reports
  • A novel spatiotemporal graph convolutional network framework for functional connectivity biomarkers identification of Alzheimer's disease, 2024, Alzheimer's Research & Therapy

The scientist had frequent collaborations with several coauthors, prominently including Michael W. Weiner, Zaven S. Khachaturian, Andrew J. Saykin, Laurel Beckett, and John C. Morris.

Leon J. Thal was recognized by receiving notable awards such as the Sedgwick Memorial Medal from the American Public Health Association in 2004 and the Potamkin Prize for Research in Pick's, Alzheimer's, and Related Diseases by the American Academy of Neurology in 2004.

Best Publications

  • Current concepts in mild cognitive impairment.

    Ronald C. Petersen;Rachelle Doody;Alexander Kurz;Richard C. Mohs

  • A controlled trial of selegiline, alpha-tocopherol, or both as treatment for Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study

    Mary Sano;Christopher Ernesto;Ronald G. Thomas;Melville R. Klauber

  • Estrogen plus progestin and the incidence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment in postmenopausal women: the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study: a randomized controlled trial.

    Sally A. Shumaker;Claudine Legault;Stephen R. Rapp;Leon Thal

  • Vitamin E and Donepezil for the Treatment of Mild Cognitive Impairment

    Ronald C. Petersen;Ronald G. Thomas;Michael Grundman;David Bennett

  • Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative

    Susanne G. Mueller;Michael W. Weiner;Leon J. Thal;Ronald C. Petersen

  • EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR AND FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR-2 HAVE DIFFERENT EFFECTS ON NEURAL PROGENITORS IN THE ADULT RAT BRAIN

    H G Kuhn;J Winkler;J Winkler;G Kempermann;L J Thal;L J Thal

  • The Alzheimer's disease neuroimaging initiative

    Susanne G. Mueller;Michael W. Weiner;Michael W. Weiner;Leon J. Thal;Ronald C. Petersen

  • Ways toward an early diagnosis in Alzheimer’s disease: The Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI)

    Susanne G. Mueller;Susanne G. Mueller;Michael W. Weiner;Michael W. Weiner;Leon J. Thal;Ronald C. Petersen

  • Estrogen Replacement Therapy for Treatment of Mild to Moderate Alzheimer Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial

    R. A. Mulnard;C. W. Cotman;C. Kawas;C. H. Van Dyck

  • Mild cognitive impairment can be distinguished from Alzheimer disease and normal aging for clinical trials.

    Michael Grundman;Ronald C. Petersen;Steven H. Ferris;Ronald G. Thomas

  • Effects of Rofecoxib or Naproxen vs Placebo on Alzheimer Disease Progression: A Randomized Controlled Trial

    Paul S. Aisen;Kimberly A. Schafer;Michael Grundman;Eric Pfeiffer

  • Early role of vascular dysregulation on late-onset Alzheimer’s disease based on multifactorial data-driven analysis

    Y. Iturria-Medina;R. C. Sotero;P. J. Toussaint;J. M. Mateos-Pérez

  • A phase 1 clinical trial of nerve growth factor gene therapy for Alzheimer disease

    Mark H Tuszynski;Mark H Tuszynski;Leon Thal;Leon Thal;Mary Pay;David P Salmon

  • The Lewy body variant of Alzheimer's disease A clinical and pathologic entity

    L. Hansen;D. Salmon;D. Galasko;E. Masliah

  • Proliferation and differentiation of progenitor cells throughout the intact adult rat spinal cord

    Philip J. Horner;Ann E. Power;Gerd Kempermann;Gerd Kempermann;H. Georg Kuhn

  • Comparisons of Verbal Fluency Tasks in the Detection of Dementia of the Alzheimer Type

    Andreas U. Monsch;Mark W. Bondi;Nelson Butters;David P. Salmon

  • A double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study of tacrine for Alzheimer's disease. The Tacrine Collaborative Study Group.

    K. L. Davis;Leon J. Thal;E. R. Gamzu;C. S. Davis

  • Secretion of β-amyloid precursor protein cleaved at the amino terminus of the β-amyloid peptide

    Peter Seubert;Tilman Oltersdorf;Michael G. Lee;Robin Barbour

  • Cerebral amyloid angiopathy in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease The CERAD experience, part XV

    R. J. Ellis;John M Olichney;L. J. Thal;S. S. Mirra

  • Genetic association of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein gene (LRP), an apolipoprotein E receptor, with late-onset Alzheimer's disease

    D. E. Kang;T. Saitoh;X. Chen;Y. Xia

  • Development of cognitive instruments for use in clinical trials of antidementia drugs: additions to the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale that broaden its scope. The Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study.

    R C Mohs;D Knopman;R C Petersen;S H Ferris

Frequent Co-Authors

David P. Salmon
David P. Salmon University of California, San Diego
Douglas Galasko
Douglas Galasko University of California, San Diego
Jody Corey-Bloom
Jody Corey-Bloom University of California, San Diego
Fred H. Gage
Fred H. Gage Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Eliezer Masliah
Eliezer Masliah National Institutes of Health
Robert Katzman
Robert Katzman University of California, San Diego
Philip J. Langlais
Philip J. Langlais San Diego State University
Mark W. Bondi
Mark W. Bondi University of California, San Diego
Steven H. Ferris
Steven H. Ferris New York University
Ronald J. Mandel
Ronald J. Mandel University of Florida

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