Artificial Intelligence Trial Set to improve efficiency of identifying Alzheimer’s Disease

Dennis Clark, a 75-year-old patient at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, was an initial participant in an AI trial to help identify and medicate Alzheimer’s disease. In July of this year, Mr Clark had an MRI scan to discover hours later that test results showed signs of early Alzheimer’s and was then recommended to join the QMIN-MC trial.

The QMIN-MC trial utilises a specific algorithm that can identify patterns in MRI scans and use that information to identify and analyse patient issues. This information is used alongside the outcomes of traditional memory tests. The trial was established by research leader at the Alan Turing Institute, Professor Zoe Kourtzi.

Dr Timothy Rittman, consultant and clinical lead for the trial, described how “Traditionally when we look at patient scans we are looking for patterns to be able to help us exclude things like strokes and brain tumours. The computer can do this much more comprehensively than any human, helping to give us not only a more accurate diagnosis but also a prognosis as well. With a better prognosis, we can identify how quickly a patient is moving away from the normal pattern of the disease and amend their treatment and care accordingly.”