ALZHEIMER’S disease could be predicted seven years before you develop it by AI, a study suggests.
Machine learning models were able to spot early warning signs of the memory-robbing condition, US researchers found.
Lead researcher Alice Tang, a doctoral student at UC San Francisco, said AI helped identify other conditions that are linked to Alzheimer’s years before its onset.
She said: “This is a first step towards using AI on routine clinical data, not only to identify risk as early as possible, but also to understand the biology behind it.
“The power of this AI approach comes from identifying risk based on combinations of diseases.”
Around 944,000 Brits are currently living with dementia and experts predict the numbers will exceed one million by the end of the decade.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of the condition, and is thought to be caused by build-ups of proteins in the brain, including tau and amyloid.
There is currently no cure for the disease, although promising drugs to slow down its progress are currently in trials.
The latest study, published in Nature Aging, used AI to analyse more than 5million people’s health records to see if there are any patterns linking Alzheimer’s to other conditions.
High blood pressure, cholesterol and vitamin D deficiency were linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s in both men and women.
Men were also more at risk if they had erectile dysfunction or an enlarged prostate.
Women had a greater chance if they had osteoporosis — the bone disease.
The AI system was able to accurately predict Alzheimer’s in 72 per cent of patients that went on to suffer from the disease up to seven years in advance.
Tang Said: “It is the combination of diseases that allows our model to predict Alzheimer’s onset.
“Our finding that osteoporosis is one predictive factor for females highlights the biological interplay between bone health and dementia risk.”
Dr Marina Sirota, of UCSF, said: “This is a great example of how we can leverage patient data with machine learning to predict which patients are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s, and also to understand the reasons why that is so.”
What are the early symptoms of cognitive decline?
WE all notice a natural decline in memory and thinking as we age.
This will be more pronounced in some people, as they experience memory and thinking problems that are mild but still noticeable.
This is described as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Unlike dementia sufferers, people with MCI can still get on with day-to-day life.
Research suggests that two out of 10 people over the age
of 65 have MCI, according to Alzheimer’s Research UK.
About one in 10 people who’ve received an MCI diagnosis will go on to develop dementia.
Symptoms of MCI include:
Memory – Misplacing items or having trouble
remembering recent conversations.
- Attention problems – finding it difficult to concentrate,
e.g. while watching a TV programme or carrying out
duties at work - Disorientation – confusion about time, date or place
- Thinking skills – problems with planning or completing
tasks, e.g. managing money, or cooking a meal - Problems with communication and finding the right words
- Mood and behaviour changes – becoming irritable, anxious,
or feeling low
These symptoms may affect someone with MCI all the
time, or they might come and go.
There are steps we can take to keep our brains as healthy as possible. These include:
- Not smoking
- Doing regular physical activity
- Staying mentally and socially active
- Eating a healthy balanced diet
- Limiting the amount of alcohol we drink
- Having your hearing checked regularly
- Keeping blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol
levels in check
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
