Can a New AI Tool Detect 9 Types of Dementia from a Single Brain Scan?

New Delhi, June 30 (NationPress) In a remarkable breakthrough for the early detection of neurodegenerative disorders, a team of researchers from the United States has unveiled a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool that enables healthcare professionals to identify brain activity patterns associated with nine types of dementia using just one widely accessible scan.

This tool, named StateViewer, not only facilitates early diagnosis but also offers precise identification—it successfully recognized the type of dementia in 88 percent of cases, including Alzheimer's disease.

Moreover, it allows clinicians to interpret brain scans almost twice as quickly and with up to three times greater accuracy compared to traditional methods, as highlighted by research published in the journal Neurology.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic trained and evaluated the AI using over 3,600 scans, which included images from both dementia patients and individuals without cognitive issues.

Currently, diagnosing dementia involves cognitive assessments, blood tests, imaging, and clinical interviews, yet differentiating between conditions like Alzheimer's, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia remains complex.

"Each patient entering my clinic carries their unique narrative shaped by the intricacies of their brain," stated David Jones, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic.

"StateViewer embodies that dedication—a stride towards earlier comprehension, more accurate treatments, and, ultimately, altering the trajectory of these diseases," he continued, serving as the director of the Mayo Clinic Neurology Artificial Intelligence Programme.

The tool evaluates a fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scan, which illustrates how the brain utilizes glucose for energy. It then compares the scan against a vast database of images from individuals with confirmed dementia diagnoses, identifying patterns that correspond to specific types or combinations of dementia.

While Alzheimer's affects memory and processing regions, Lewy body dementia impacts areas linked to attention and movement. Frontotemporal dementia alters regions critical for language and behavior.

StateViewer showcases these patterns through color-coded brain maps that highlight significant areas of brain activity, providing all clinicians, even those lacking specialized neurology training, with a visual representation of what the AI identifies and how it aids the diagnosis.

Dementia currently affects over 55 million people globally, with nearly 10 million new cases diagnosed each year.

Alzheimer's disease, the most prevalent form, is now recognized as the fifth-leading cause of death worldwide.