Sep 24, 2021

New research detects early signs of Alzheimer’s with almost 100% accuracy

Senior man sitting in park

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is often an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease, and though it usually has no clear symptoms early on, it can sometimes be identified with brain scans – known as functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) – even before symptoms appear.

However, identifying MCI with FMRI is both time consuming and expensive.

Now researchers have used deep learning technology – a type of artificial intelligence – that could potentially speed up the process, and they are able to detect MCI with better than 99% accuracy.

The research involved using a deep learning model to classify thousands of images of the brains of 138 subjects with various stages of MCI. The model was able to identify MCI accurately in more than 99% of cases.

Alzheimer’s is a debilitating, progressive disease that has no cure.

Approximately 24 million people currently have Alzheimer’s disease, and that number is expected to double every 20 years.

It’s widely accepted that early diagnosis means the patient is more likely to benefit from treatment.

The aim is for the algorithm to be developed into software that could analyse data from vulnerable groups, such as the over 65s, those with a history of brain injury or those with high blood pressure.

The software could be used to pick up anomalies that could enable earlier diagnoses of Alzheimer’s.

The researchers say the algorithm should not be relied upon alone for a diagnosis, but it can provide useful information quickly and affordably, meaning the patient can have a diagnosis and treatment more quickly.

“Of course, we don’t dare to suggest that a medical professional should ever rely on any algorithm 100%”, said Maskeliūnas.

“Think of a machine as a robot capable of doing the most tedious task of sorting the data and searching for features. 

“In this scenario, after the computer algorithm selects potentially affected cases, the specialist can look into them more closely, and at the end, everybody benefits as the diagnosis and the treatment reaches the patient much faster.”

While there is still no cure for Alzheimer’s, this research is another promising step on the road to better treatments.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Could Your Blood Type Influence Susceptibility to Alzheimer’s?

A new research study from the University of Sheffield suggests that our blood type may have more of an influence on protecting our brain from disease than previously thought. A promising development that may have the potential to unveil another piece of the puzzle supporting Alzheimer’s research. The University of Sheffield journal Brain Research Bulletin,... Read More

Resident’s family take legal action against home, provider points to media misrepresentation

A Queensland woman is taking legal action against her father's aged care facility after they allegedly failed to manage his pain medication while he was dying from pancreatic cancer, but the provider has said the media has misrepresented the facts. Read More

Dealing with agitation and aggression in dementia

Agitation and aggression are common symptoms of dementia, and can be extremely challenging to manage, not only for the person experiencing the symptoms, but also for families and carers. But new research is shining a light on this complex field, and has revealed that non-pharmacological interventions, such as touch therapy, outdoor activities, and music, can... Read More
Advertisement