Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning in Alzheimer’s disease study, diagnosis and therapeutics.

Dr. Sandeep Kumar Mishra (Associate Professor)
Faculty of Pharmacy, Kalinga University, Raipur, (C.G.), India.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are transforming Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research, diagnosis, and therapeutic development. Alzheimer’s, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, lacks definitive diagnostic tests and effective treatments. AI and ML algorithms offer innovative solutions to these challenges by analyzing complex and large-scale biomedical data, including genetic, imaging, clinical, and lifestyle data, to identify patterns and markers associated with AD risk, onset, and progression.
In diagnostics, AI-driven imaging analysis, especially using MRI and PET scans, enhances early detection by identifying subtle changes in brain structure and function that are imperceptible to human evaluators. ML algorithms analyze these images to distinguish between Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative conditions, thus supporting more accurate and early diagnosis. Additionally, AI models trained on cognitive and behavioral datasets provide tools to monitor disease progression, offering non-invasive methods for tracking AD’s clinical trajectory.
In therapeutics, AI is instrumental in drug discovery, expediting the identification of potential treatment targets and the development of disease-modifying therapies. By mining large pharmaceutical datasets, ML can uncover new drug candidates, predict patient responses, and optimize clinical trial designs, which accelerates therapeutic advances. Predictive algorithms help personalize treatment by suggesting interventions based on individual risk profiles, which is especially valuable given AD’s variability in progression and response to treatments.
AI and ML also enable the integration of data from disparate sources, providing a holistic view of Alzheimer’s disease mechanisms and potential intervention points. However, despite these advancements, there remain challenges related to data privacy, model interpretability, and generalizability across diverse populations. Nonetheless, AI and ML hold significant promise for revolutionizing the approach to Alzheimer’s disease, moving closer to predictive, preventive, and personalized care, and ultimately improving outcomes for patients and caregivers.