A new study published in Nature Scientific Reports claims to have discovered a A new method of detecting mental disorders artificial intellect. Specialists can identify some trends in mental illness Much faster than today.

Today, detection and diagnosis of mental disorders is a multi-step process. In fact, in countries such as USAThe process is so slow that many patients They can wait up to two years for their first appointment with a psychiatrist who specializes in this area. However, this new study, led by members of Georgia State University, could change all that.

Sergey Pliss, The associate professor of computer science and neuroscience at Georgia State University notes that he has “built artificial intelligence models to interpret large amounts of information from magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).” In his statement, Pliss claims that although fMRI is a much more comprehensive examination than a blood test or a traditional MRI, “Large amounts of data are much more difficult to interpret.”

Also, they are not readily available and are often much more expensive than blood tests. However, thanks to the evolution of the AI ​​model, A big change may appear soon. Something very similar Artificial intelligence that allows faster detection of breast cancer.

This is how this AI works to detect mental disorders

Artificial intelligence can recognize early signs of disorders such as: ASD (autism spectrum disorder), schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease. Of course, none of these three are preventable (like ASD, which appears before a child is born), but Early diagnosis is essential for effective treatment.

But how exactly does it work? This AI is created from scans taken with an MRI. This allows flexible measurement of brain activity to be displayed Changes in blood flow to organs.

To prepare it, database more A sample of 10,000 people. This allows AI to take images provided by an fMRI (a test in which images of the inside of the brain are created using strong magnetic fields) and correlate them with brain function.

Similarly, the AI ​​was powered by a database 1200 samples from different patients who had any of the above violations.

With all this information, AI can detect certain patterns in the brain behavior of patients with the characteristics of these mental disorders. also, can pinpoint the exact moment in fMRI when the data are most consistent with a given disorder.

For people with Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia, research has produced very positive results. Unlike ASD, predicting when the early symptoms of the first two will begin may be important in its treatment.

in fact, Vince Calhoun, A co-author of the study and founding director of the Georgia State Trends Center said, “If we can find markers to predict Alzheimer’s risk at age 40, we can do it.

secondly, Schizophrenia can be detected before the brain structure changes. This step will be very important if you want to avoid this type of disorder in the future.

“Even if we know from other tests or family history that someone is at risk for a disorder like Alzheimer’s, We cannot yet predict when this will happen. “Brain imaging can narrow this time window and capture relevant patterns when they appear before clinical disease manifests,” said study co-author Vince Calhoun.

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