New machine learning program shows promise for early alzheimer's diagnosis
More than 5 million Americans may have Alzheimer's disease, according to estimates, and the numbers are growing as the population ages. The disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills. And while there is no cure, several drugs can delay or prevent symptoms from worsening for up to five years or more, according to the National Institute on Aging and published research. Meanwhile, early diagnosis and treatment -- the goal of the new computer based program -- is key to allowing those with the disease to remain independent longer. The computer program integrates a range of Alzheimer's disease indicators, including mild cognitive impairment. In two successive stages, the algorithm selects the most pertinent to predict who has Alzheimer's. "Many papers compare the healthy to those with the disease, but there's a continuum," said Anant Madabhushi, F. Alex Nason professor II of biomedical engineering ...