Artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning that interprets a combination of retinal images was able to successfully identify Alzheimer's disease patients, stated a study from Duke University.
Artificial intelligence approach could one day be used as a predictive tool. The findings of the study are published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.
Alzheimers Disease
Alzheimer''s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting memory and thinking and making the person increasingly dependent on others.
Advertisement
‘Machine learning analysis of certain types of retinal images has the potential to offer a non-invasive way to detect Alzheimer's disease in symptomatic individuals.’
Tweet it Now
The machine learning software looks at retinal structure and blood vessels on images of the inside of the eye that have been correlated with cognitive changes.
"Diagnosing Alzheimer's disease often relies on symptoms and cognitive testing," said senior author Sharon Fekrat, M.D., retina specialist at the Duke Eye Center. "Additional tests to confirm the diagnosis are invasive, expensive, and carry some risk. Having a more accessible method to identify Alzheimer's could help patients in many ways, including improving diagnostic precision, allowing entry into clinical trials earlier in the disease course, and planning for necessary lifestyle adjustments."
![Artificial intelligence in Healthcare]( "Artificial intelligence in Healthcare")
Artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare is the discipline using data intensive computer based solutions to improve patient care and outcome.
Researchers trained a machine learning model, known as a convolutional neural network (CNN), using four types of retinal scans as inputs to teach a computer to discern relevant differences among images.
Scans from 159 study participants were used to build the CNN; 123 patients were cognitively healthy, and 36 patients were known to have Alzheimer's.
"We tested several different approaches, but our best-performing model combined retinal images with clinical patient data," said lead author C. Ellis Wisely, M.D., a comprehensive ophthalmologist at Duke. "Our CNN differentiated patients with symptomatic Alzheimer's disease from cognitively healthy participants in an independent test group."
Co-author Dilraj S. Grewal, M.D., Duke retinal specialist said additional studies will also determine how well the AI approach compares to current methods of diagnosing Alzheimer's disease, which often include expensive and invasive neuroimaging and cerebral spinal fluid tests.
"Links between Alzheimer's disease and retinal changes -- coupled with non-invasive, cost-effective, and widely available retinal imaging platforms -- position multimodal retinal image analysis combined with artificial intelligence as an attractive additional tool, or potentially even an alternative, for predicting the diagnosis of Alzheimer's," Fekrat said.
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
Integrating AI into the healthcare system allows for a multitude of benefits:
Artificial intelligence in Healthcare
Artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare is the discipline using data intensive computer based solutions to improve patient care and outcome.
Advertisement
Researchers trained a machine learning model, known as a convolutional neural network (CNN), using four types of retinal scans as inputs to teach a computer to discern relevant differences among images.
Scans from 159 study participants were used to build the CNN; 123 patients were cognitively healthy, and 36 patients were known to have Alzheimer's.
"We tested several different approaches, but our best-performing model combined retinal images with clinical patient data," said lead author C. Ellis Wisely, M.D., a comprehensive ophthalmologist at Duke. "Our CNN differentiated patients with symptomatic Alzheimer's disease from cognitively healthy participants in an independent test group."
Co-author Dilraj S. Grewal, M.D., Duke retinal specialist said additional studies will also determine how well the AI approach compares to current methods of diagnosing Alzheimer's disease, which often include expensive and invasive neuroimaging and cerebral spinal fluid tests.
"Links between Alzheimer's disease and retinal changes -- coupled with non-invasive, cost-effective, and widely available retinal imaging platforms -- position multimodal retinal image analysis combined with artificial intelligence as an attractive additional tool, or potentially even an alternative, for predicting the diagnosis of Alzheimer's," Fekrat said.
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
Integrating AI into the healthcare system allows for a multitude of benefits:
- Automates administrative tasks at a lower cost.
- Analyzes big patient data sets to deliver better healthcare services.
- Helps in early diagnosis.
- Supports people with mental health issues.
Test Your Knowledge on Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) or machine intelligence refers to the intelligence displayed by computers or robots in contrast to the natural intelligence exhibited by humans. It is considered one of the major advancements of the 4th industrial revolution and finds application in several fields including medicine. Take this quiz to test your knowledge on artificial intelligence
Advertisement
 Caring for Alzheimers disease patientsAlzheimer's disease is a complex brain disorder that triggers the most common form of dementia. The slide show will show how patients need support and care as dementia progresses. | Advertisement
|
Advertisement
Recommended Readings
Latest News on IT in Healthcare
FDA-approved two renal denervation systems mark a groundbreaking step in treating uncontrolled hypertension.
The AI system generates a report outlining the specific neural pathways impacted and their expected influence on brain functionality in individuals with autism.
Rather than being perceived as an obstacle, experts argue that the pandemic has served as a catalyst for digital transformation, especially the healthcare industry.
Novel innovation by AI helps provide a swift, yet reproducible measure of lean muscle mass in developing children.
In healthcare, AI aids diagnostics by swiftly and accurately identifying challenging image abnormalities, surpassing human eye capabilities.