Powerful Tool Predicts Alzheimer’s Progression

Listen, I’m not proud.

I’m good at what I do, but if there’s something (or someone) out there that can help me do my job better… I’m all for it.

So, when I read about something that was THREE TIMES MORE ACCURATE than doctors at identifying Alzheimer’s disease, I was all ears.

I don’t think that artificial intelligence (AI) can replace real doctors, but I DO believe we can—and should—use this powerful tool to our advantage.

The advantage of this approach was clearly demonstrated in a recent study that put doctors and AI in a head-to-head competition to see which was best at predicting the progression of Alzheimer’s.

See, in the early stages of the disease, it can be difficult to distinguish between age-related memory problems and dementia.

For people in the early stages of disease, this can delay treatment for years.

That’s why the search has been on for a more accurate way to diagnose dementia earlier.

Researchers developed an AI tool that used data from cognitive tests and MRI scans to predict whether someone would progress from having mild cognitive symptoms to developing Alzheimer’s.

They “fed” the AI model information (including cognitive test results and brain scans) from 1,500 patients with cognitive issues.

The results were impressive.

The AI model could predict who would develop Alzheimer’s in the next three years with 82 percent accuracy.

It also predicted those who would have mild but stable dementia in 81 percent of cases.

The AI was also able to categorize individuals based on their risk, which allows the most high-risk individuals to get treatment sooner.

Even though the doctors had access to brain scans, cognitive testing, and analysis of spinal fluid, this AI model was three times more accurate than the doctors at predicting Alzheimer’s progression.

Does this mean AI should take over healthcare?

Of course not.

But it does mean we can—and should—use it as a powerful ally against a deadly enemy.

P.S. Brain cell “gatekeeper” could STOP Alzheimer’s.

SOURCE:

Liz Yuanxi Lee, Delshad Vaghari, Michael C. Burkhart, et al., Robust and interpretable AI-guided marker for early dementia prediction in real-world clinical settings, eClinical Medicine, 7.12.2024, [doi. org /10.1016/j.eclinm. 2024.102725]