Artificial intelligence is being used to help diagnose dementia more quickly and accurately.
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board in south east Wales is the first in the UK to begin the study, which will eventually be rolled out to 1,000 patients at centres across the UK.
Currently, patients with unclear symptoms such as retired postmistress, Kathryn White can wait years for a diagnosis.
Mrs White, 78, from Newport, said the wait for her diagnosis was “awful”.
“You’re just not sure what’s happening, and it’s frightening,” she said.”You think, am I losing my mind? Is it just old age?
“It’s a relief to finally know, but it’s also scary.”
The AI system analyses brain scans and combines them with cognitive test results and patient history to provide a diagnosis.
Dr. Giri Shankar, consultant neurologist at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said: “Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for people living with dementia.”It allows them to access the right care and support, and to plan for the future.
“This AI system has the potential to significantly reduce the time it takes to diagnose dementia,and to improve the accuracy of diagnoses.”
The study is being funded by the Alzheimer’s Society and the LifeArc charity.
“We are excited to be working with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board on this important project,” said Hilary Evans, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Society.
“AI has the potential to transform dementia diagnosis, and we are hopeful that this study will pave the way for wider adoption of this technology.”“`html
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It is indeed hoped the study will help cut waiting times so more patients can be treated and supported soon after their initial GP referral.
“We know that in the next couple of years, there’ll be millions of people across the world who have dementia and the most common form is Alzheimer’s,” said Dr Chineze Ivenso, Health and Care Research Wales’ (HCRW) lead for dementia and consultant in Old Age Psychiatry at the health board.
“In Wales,as in most parts of the UK,we have an ageing population and most cases of dementia are in older people – so we have to face this demographic explosion and we need to change the way we do things.
“My hope is that this research will give us the tools to give patients treatment and support at an earlier stage of their disease.”