Transforming Healthcare: How AI is Changing the Game in Parkinson's Detection
More than 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson's disease. It's the second most common neurodegenerative condition after Alzheimer's, and the number of cases is increasing faster than other similar conditions.?
Currently, doctors diagnose Parkinson's by looking at a person's symptoms, and medical history, and doing a physical checkup. There are no specific tests for Parkinson's.
AI in Diagnosing Parkinson’s
In a recent breakthrough, scientists have created an AI tool capable of anticipating Parkinson's disease indicators in blood samples, foreseeing symptoms by up to 15 years before they appear.?
Dr. Mya Schiess, a neurology professor and director of the Movement Disorders & Neurodegenerative Diseases Program at UTHealth Houston, commented that this innovation could revolutionize Parkinson's diagnosis. She highlighted how this tool offers a dependable and precise method to predict the onset of the disorder, providing an objective approach for patients at risk.
The researchers used a special AI tool called CRANK-MS to study the information. They looked at different combinations of substances called metabolites. These are made when the body breaks down food, drugs, and other things. They compared these substances in people who got Parkinson's and those who didn't.
With the help of CRANK-MS, scientists found special groups of substances that were different in people who got Parkinson's. Just from these groups, they could tell 96% of people would develop Parkinson's within 15 years.?
They mentioned that their new tool is better at detecting Parkinson's compared to the tests doctors use now. These tests are accurate around 80% of the time.
Predicting who will develop Parkinson’s
Based on the patient's outcomes 15 years following the blood sample collection, it's evident that the tool excels in predicting Parkinson's disease.
Notably, correlations emerged between lower triterpenoid levels in those who developed Parkinson's and higher levels of poly-fluoroalkyl substances, commonly found in industrial compounds, among Parkinson's patients. This data empowers healthcare professionals to offer guidance for reducing the risk of Parkinson's and enhancing protective measures for individuals in the future.
Our Impact
We understood the importance of spotting problems early and keeping watch, so we used AI's power to create a complete answer.
At CoRLab Tech, we embarked on a significant project called PDM - a pioneering app designed for self-testing and monitoring Parkinson's disease. Our innovative app encompasses a range of tests, including traditional measurement assessments, as well as tests powered by artificial intelligence (AI).