An artificial intelligence system that could diagnose dementia from a single brain scan has been developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge.
Preclinical testing suggests that the technology can detect signs of dementia years before symptoms develop. The system is now being evaluated in clinical trials .
Promising technology
The system’s algorithm looks for patterns in brain scans that neurologists cannot detect. These are then compared to the patient’s results in a database to make a diagnosis .
According to Zoe Kourtzi of the University of Cambridge, the system could improve patient outcomes:
If we intervene early, treatments can start early and slow the progression of the disease while preventing further damage. And the symptoms are likely to occur much later in life or never occur.
The tool is now being tested in memory clinics across the UK. The researchers expect about 500 patients to participate in the first year of the trial.