When you have artificial intelligence, who needs a crystal ball?
Researcher at Mass General Brigham We have developed a game-changing AI tool that can detect subtle changes in brain wave patterns that can predict cognitive decline years ago before symptoms appear.
“This could completely change the way we approach dementia prevention,” he said. Dr. Shahab HahayRead author of the study Instructor at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
Unlocking the secrets of brain waves
AI tools use EEG to function by analyzing brain wave activity recorded during sleep. This is a non-invasive technique that tracks electrical activity in the brain through scalp sensors.
The AI tool was developed using data from another trial on fracture risk that women aged 65 and older received cognitive testing at about the same time they took part in sleep studies that included overnight EEG.
Haghayegh and his team honeeded 281 participants who had normal cognitive function at the time of their initial sleep study, and repeated the same cognitive test five years later. By the second round of assessment, 96 women had developed cognitive impairment.
Researchers applied advanced information theory techniques to extract EEG patterns from EEG data collected during sleep studies. AI was then used to detect subtle changes in EEG activity, especially with the frequency of gamma bands in deep sleep, among individuals who later developed cognitive impairment, even before symptoms surfaced.
The AI tool accurately flagged 85% of individuals who ultimately experienced cognitive decline, with an overall accuracy of 77%.
“New and sophisticated analyses, advanced information theory tools, and AI can be used to detect subtle changes in brain wave patterns during sleep.
Promise for early intervention
Cognitive decline in our courses as we age is a bit normal, with most people experiencing multitasking troubles over time, as processing speeds, memory expired. But when it starts to interfere with everyday life, it could become a red flag that something more serious might be happening.
Research suggests One in 10 US adults aged 65 and over suffer from dementia, with an additional 22% having mild cognitive impairment. Experts predict that these numbers will increase significantly over the next few years. This is driven primarily by long life expectancy and an older population.
Thanks to AI tools, early detection allows valuable time to make lifestyle changes, such as exercise, staying mentally active, or eating a balanced diet.
Early identification may also delay disease progression and open the door to treatments and drugs that relieve symptoms.
“The new FDA-approved treatment for Alzheimer's disease is effective in the early stages of dementia, but not in a more advanced stage,” he said. Dr. Kunhusenior author and physiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
“An intervention that was carried out earlier before anyone shows signs of cognitive decline is likely to be even more effective,” Hu added.
This research also paves the way for exciting new possibilities. It manipulates electrical activity in the brain to reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
Haghayegh and Hu are currently designing clinical studies to test whether electrical stimulation can alter EEG patterns during sleep.
