AI Breakthrough Offers Hope for Early Alzheimer’s Detection
New Delhi: Scientists in the United States have unveiled a promising new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tool that could revolutionize the way cognitive decline is identified in older individuals. This innovation has the potential to play a crucial role in mitigating the risk of developing debilitating conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
The research team highlights that mild cognitive impairment (MCI) often serves as an early warning sign for Alzheimer’s and dementia. Recognizing these cognitive issues in their initial stages is vital, as it allows for timely interventions and potentially improves long-term outcomes for affected individuals.
However, the current process for diagnosing MCI can be lengthy and complex, often posing a significant challenge, particularly in rural communities where access to specialized neuropsychologists is limited.
To address this hurdle, the researchers developed a user-friendly, portable system. They conducted a study involving older adults, some of whom had been diagnosed with MCI. Participants were asked to perform three common physical activities: standing still, walking, and standing up from a seated position. Importantly, they had to perform these movements while simultaneously counting backward in intervals of seven.
The portable system meticulously recorded their performance during these tasks. This data was then fed into a sophisticated machine learning model, a branch of AI. The results were highly encouraging, with the AI accurately identifying 83 percent of the participants who had been previously diagnosed with MCI.
Trent Guess, an associate professor at the university involved in the study, explained the underlying principle behind this innovative approach. “The areas of the brain responsible for cognitive function are closely linked with those controlling motor function,” he stated. “Therefore, when one area is affected, the other is also impacted.”
Guess further elaborated that the new device can detect subtle changes in motor functions, such as balance and walking patterns, that might easily go unnoticed through simple observation.
With the global number of individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease projected to rise dramatically in the coming years, this portable AI-based tool holds significant promise. Given that MCI is a known precursor to Alzheimer’s and dementia, its widespread use could potentially benefit millions of older adults by enabling earlier diagnosis and intervention.
Beyond its application in detecting cognitive impairment, the researchers believe this technology has a broader range of potential uses. According to Guess, the portable system could also be valuable in assessing individuals with concussions, aiding in sports rehabilitation, and monitoring patients with conditions like ALS and Parkinson’s disease, as well as those recovering from knee and hip replacement surgeries. This new AI-driven tool represents a significant step forward in the early detection and management of cognitive decline and other neurological and physical conditions.