1/5/22, 3:28 PM Artificial intelligence accurately predicts who will develop dementia in two years -- ScienceDaily
Your source for the latest research news
Artificial intelligence accurately predicts who will develop
dementia in two years
Date: December 16, 2021
Source: University of Exeter
Summary: Artificial intelligence can predict which people who attend memory clinics will develop dementia
within two years with 92 per cent accuracy, a largescale new study has concluded. Using data from
more than 15,300 patients in the US, researchers found that a form of artificial intelligence called
machine learning can accurately tell who will go on to develop dementia.
FULL STORY
Artificial intelligence can predict which people who attend memory clinics will develop dementia
within two years with 92 per cent accuracy, a largescale new study has concluded.
Using data from more than 15,300 patients in the US, research from the University of Exeter found that a form of
artificial intelligence called machine learning can accurately tell who will go on to develop dementia.
The technique works by spotting hidden patterns in the data and learning who is most at risk. The study,
published in JAMA Network Open and funded by funded by Alzheimer's Research UK, also suggested that the
algorithm could help reduce the number of people who may have been falsely diagnosed with dementia.
The researchers analysed data from people who attended a network of 30 National Alzheimer's Coordinating
Center memory clinics in the US. The attendees did not have dementia at the start of the study, though many
were experiencing problems with memory or other brain functions.
In the study timeframe between 2005 and 2015, one in ten attendees (1,568) received a new diagnosis of
dementia within two years of visiting the memory clinic. The research found that the machine learning model
could predict these new dementia cases with up to 92 per cent accuracy -- and far more accurately than two
existing alternative research methods.
The researchers also found for the first time that around eight per cent (130) of the dementia diagnoses appeared
to be made in error, as their diagnosis was subsequently reversed. Machine learning models accurately identified
more than 80 per cent of these inconsistent diagnoses. Artificial intelligence can not only accurately predict who
will be diagnosed with dementia, it also has the potential to improve the accuracy of these diagnoses.
Professor David Llewellyn, an Alan Turing Fellow based at the University of Exeter, who oversaw the study, said:
"We're now able to teach computers to accurately predict who will go on to develop dementia within two years.
We're also excited to learn that our machine learning approach was able to identify patients who may have been
misdiagnosed. This has the potential to reduce the guesswork in clinical practice and significantly improve the
diagnostic pathway, helping families access the support they need as swiftly and as accurately as possible."
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211216145926.htm 1/3
Your source for the latest research news
Artificial intelligence accurately predicts who will develop
dementia in two years
Date: December 16, 2021
Source: University of Exeter
Summary: Artificial intelligence can predict which people who attend memory clinics will develop dementia
within two years with 92 per cent accuracy, a largescale new study has concluded. Using data from
more than 15,300 patients in the US, researchers found that a form of artificial intelligence called
machine learning can accurately tell who will go on to develop dementia.
FULL STORY
Artificial intelligence can predict which people who attend memory clinics will develop dementia
within two years with 92 per cent accuracy, a largescale new study has concluded.
Using data from more than 15,300 patients in the US, research from the University of Exeter found that a form of
artificial intelligence called machine learning can accurately tell who will go on to develop dementia.
The technique works by spotting hidden patterns in the data and learning who is most at risk. The study,
published in JAMA Network Open and funded by funded by Alzheimer's Research UK, also suggested that the
algorithm could help reduce the number of people who may have been falsely diagnosed with dementia.
The researchers analysed data from people who attended a network of 30 National Alzheimer's Coordinating
Center memory clinics in the US. The attendees did not have dementia at the start of the study, though many
were experiencing problems with memory or other brain functions.
In the study timeframe between 2005 and 2015, one in ten attendees (1,568) received a new diagnosis of
dementia within two years of visiting the memory clinic. The research found that the machine learning model
could predict these new dementia cases with up to 92 per cent accuracy -- and far more accurately than two
existing alternative research methods.
The researchers also found for the first time that around eight per cent (130) of the dementia diagnoses appeared
to be made in error, as their diagnosis was subsequently reversed. Machine learning models accurately identified
more than 80 per cent of these inconsistent diagnoses. Artificial intelligence can not only accurately predict who
will be diagnosed with dementia, it also has the potential to improve the accuracy of these diagnoses.
Professor David Llewellyn, an Alan Turing Fellow based at the University of Exeter, who oversaw the study, said:
"We're now able to teach computers to accurately predict who will go on to develop dementia within two years.
We're also excited to learn that our machine learning approach was able to identify patients who may have been
misdiagnosed. This has the potential to reduce the guesswork in clinical practice and significantly improve the
diagnostic pathway, helping families access the support they need as swiftly and as accurately as possible."
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211216145926.htm 1/3
