WBUR reports BU researchers have developed an AI method for early prediction of Alzeimer’s disease

Audio and transcription below:

(WBUR, Boston – June 26, 2004) — Researchers at Boston University are exploring ways to use artificial intelligence to predict someone’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

They ran voice recordings from the massive multi-year Framingham Heart Study through an AI model.

The technology was able to detect small differences in people’s speech patterns.

The AI was able to correctly predict Alzheimer’s nearly 80% of the time.

BU Hariri Institute Director and Professor of Computing & Data Sciences Yannis Paschalidis says this technology could be used to give people in rural areas access to diagnostic care.

“Only those that are living in urban areas, fairly well-resourced, I think can afford and have proximity to experts to undergo this type of screening”.

He says that he envisions the AI could be used in smart phone apps to make assessments and refer people to doctors for further testing.

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