July-August . 2024 | The HEALTH

Why wait for symptoms when AI can send you a postcard from the future ?

Scientists have created an artificial intelligence ( AI ) -based blood test that may forecast the onset of Parkinson ’ s disease up to seven years before symptoms manifest . The test examines eight blood indicators and has demonstrated a 100 per cent level of precision in identifying the condition .

This advancement presents the possibility of intervening and treating early , before substantial brain injury . A group of scientists , headed by academics from UCL and University Medical Centre Goettingen , have created a straightforward blood test that utilises artificial intelligence ( AI ) to forecast the occurrence of Parkinson ’ s disease up to seven years before the manifestation of symptoms .

Parkinson ’ s disease is a rapidly expanding neurological ailment that now impacts about 10 million individuals worldwide . This syndrome is a degenerative disease resulting from the neuronal loss in the substantia nigra , a region of the brain responsible for regulating movement .

The degeneration or dysfunction of these neurons occurs due to the accumulation of a protein called alpha-synuclein , leading to the loss of their capacity to generate dopamine , a crucial neurotransmitter . Individuals diagnosed with Parkinson ’ s disease receive dopamine replacement medication as a treatment option if they have already exhibited symptoms , including tremors , reduced movement speed , difficulty walking , and memory impairments .

However , experts claim that the ability to forecast and identify Parkinson ’ s disease at an early stage would be highly advantageous in identifying therapies that might impede or halt the progression of the disease by safeguarding the brain cells responsible for dopamine production .

BLOOD TEST : THE PARKINSON ’ S PROPHECY

To effectively treat Parkinson ’ s disease , it is crucial to diagnose individuals before the onset of symptoms since new medicines continue to emerge . Since regenerating brain cells is not possible , it is imperative to safeguard the existing ones .

We are implementing preventive measures after the problem has already occurred , and we should initiate experimental therapies before patients experience symptoms .

Consequently , scientists embarked on using cutting-edge technology to discover novel and improved biomarkers for Parkinson ’ s disease and transform them into tests that can be implemented in any sizeable NHS laboratory . The study , published in Nature Communications , discovered that machine learning , a branch of AI , achieved a 100 per cent accurate diagnosis by analysing eight blood-based biomarkers known to be changed in individuals with Parkinson ’ s disease .

Subsequently , the researchers conducted experiments to determine the test ’ s ability to forecast the probability of an individual developing Parkinson ’ s disease . This was accomplished by analysing blood samples obtained from 72 patients diagnosed with Rapid Eye Movement Behaviour Disorder ( iRBD ). This illness , known as REM sleep behaviour disorder , causes patients to unconsciously act out their dreams , often characterised by vivid or violent content .

It is understood that around 75-80 per cent of individuals with iRBD will eventually develop a synucleinopathy , which is a specific form of brain condition characterised by the aberrant accumulation of a protein called alpha-synuclein in brain cells . This includes the development of Parkinson ’ s disease .

Upon analysing the blood of these patients , machine learning technology determined that 79 per cent of the individuals with iRBD had a profile similar to that of those with Parkinson ’ s disease . The patients were monitored over the last 10 years , and the AI forecasts accurately aligned with the actual clinical conversion rate .

The researchers successfully predicted the development of Parkinson ’ s disease in 16 people up to seven years before any symptoms appeared . The team is conducting further follow-ups on individuals expected to acquire Parkinson ’ s to validate the test ’ s accuracy .

PARKINSON ' S DISEASE

PREDICTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF PARKINSON ’ S

According to the neurosurgeon , by analysing eight specific proteins in the blood , we may detect individuals who may develop Parkinson ’ s disease several years before symptoms appear . Consequently , earlier medication treatments may impede the disease ’ s advancement or may avert its onset .

They have created a test and can also diagnose the condition by identifying indicators directly associated with processes like inflammation and breakdown of non-functional proteins . These indicators indicate potential targets for novel pharmaceutical interventions .

The team is evaluating the precision of the test by assessing samples from individuals in the community who are likely to acquire Parkinson ’ s disease , such as those with specific gene mutations like ‘ LRRK2 ’ or ‘ GBA ’ responsible for Gaucher ’ s illness . The team is also seeking funds to develop a more streamlined blood spot test , in which a small amount of blood may be placed on a card and sent to the laboratory for analysis .

The objective is to see if this test can predict the development of Parkinson ’ s disease even sooner than the seven years shown in this study . Discovering biological indicators that may be detected and quantified in the bloodstream is far less intrusive than the increasingly prevalent use of lumbar punctures in clinical research .

Through more research and development , it is conceivable that this blood-based test might differentiate between Parkinson ’ s disease and other illnesses that share some initial features , such as Multiple Systems Atrophy or Dementia with Lewy Bodies . The discoveries contribute to a stimulating surge of recent efforts to discover a straightforward method to assess and quantify Parkinson ’ s disease .

So , the next time you feel like your future is uncertain , remember that with some help from AI , your blood might know more about your brain than you do . And who knows ?

One day , AI will predict diseases and where you left your keys . – The HEALTH

BRAIN BITES

BY DR WAEL MY MOHAMED

Dr Wael MY Mohamed is with the Department of Basic Medical Science , Kulliyyah of Medicine , International Islamic University Malaysia ( IIUM ).