Sydney researchers predict onset of dementia

NSW researchers say they can now predict the onset of dementia in patients, thanks to artificial intelligence.

The University of NSW's Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) and the School of Computer Science and Engineering have teamed up, creating multiple machine learning models that predict cognitive decline using data from a Sydney study.

"We have found we are able to build models that predict the onset of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias with quite high accuracy," said computer scientist Annette Spooner.

The models can consider more data and a wider range of it to more accurately determine someone's risk of developing the disease, she says.

"Machine learning can give more accurate results than traditional statistical methods when modelling high-dimensional, heterogeneous, clinical data."

The team next hopes to use the models to determine which variables are the most predictive of dementia.

There is currently no cure for dementia or any treatment that can successfully change its course.

This article was prepared by CHeBA.