By Alisha Katz
- University of Florida researchers have developed an AI tool called AIDD that distinguishes between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies with near-perfect accuracy.
- The breakthrough tool utilizes specialized MRI brain scans and AI to map subtle water-movement patterns caused by brain cell damage and inflammation.
- By providing a definitive differentiation between the two frequently confused conditions, the technology aims to prevent misdiagnoses that can lead to harmful treatments.
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are expected to more than double by 2060. As June marks Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, three University of Florida researchers are working to improve clinicians’ ability to distinguish between these diseases — a critical step toward earlier diagnosis and better outcomes.
In a recent study published in Neurology, researchers developed a new tool called Automated Imaging Differentiation for Dementia, or AIDD. The tool combines brain scans with AI to distinguish between two common forms of dementia: Alzheimer’s disease dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies. The results showed that AIDD identified the two diseases with near-perfect accuracy, suggesting it could be a promising future tool for clinicians.
“The use of AI and advanced imaging technology holds considerable promise to uncover brain degeneration patterns for dementia,” said David Vaillancourt, Ph.D., a distinguished professor and the Orchid Endowed Chair for the UF Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology in the College of Health and Human Performance.
Originally published by UF News. Read the full story here: [As dementia cases rise, UF researchers develop a breakthrough AI tool to improve diagnosis accuracy News | University of Florida]