They manage to predict the progression of dementia using AI

Mild cognitive decline can progress to dementia in the first four years, especially in cases where patients already have amyloid pathology, that is, when abnormal proteins called amyloid accumulate and form deposits in the brain that prevent it from functioning properly. According to recent studies, Artificial Intelligence Plays a Crucial Role in Diagnostics and prognosis in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) conducted a study, in which a scientist from the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) collaborated, in which they applied artificial intelligence tools to patients with mild cognitive decline.

The results showed that several neuropsychological tests can effectively record the progression of dementia, elimination of other additional clinical trials, which facilitates the integration of this technology into clinical practice. They also confirmed the importance of performing dual-pathology tests (amyloid and tau) when diagnosing mild cognitive decline in a patient.

Although the transition period between mild cognitive decline and dementia can last more than a decade, about 30% of people suffer from it. They convert within the first four years. It was observed that approximately 80% of these rapid converters already had amyloid pathology at the time of initial diagnosis.

Currently, disease development models are developed using artificial intelligence methods. These models not only contribute to the diagnosis and prognosis of patients, but also allow testing hypotheses about the temporal evolution of diseases. They also allow analysis of whether the marker is capable of tracking the disease. These algorithms use longitudinal patient data to assess how symptoms develop and pathologies over time.