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ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY

Artificial Intelligence Could be ‘Game Changer’

in Detecting, Managing Alzheimer’s Disease

Worldwide, about 44 million people and put their theory to the test. ongoing utility of practical predictive complex condition like Alzheimer’s dis-
are living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) The researchers employed a novel models,” said Taghi Khoshgoftaar, Ph.D., ease,” said Michael F. Bergeron, Ph.D.,
or a related form of dementia. Although application of supervised machine learn- co-author and Motorola Professor in senior author and senior vice president
82 percent of seniors in the United States ing and predictive modeling to demon- FAU’s Department of Computer and of development and applications, SIV-
say it’s important to have their thinking strate and validate the cross-sectional Electrical Engineering and Computer OTEC Analytics. “By analyzing a wide
or memory checked, only 16 percent say utility of MemTrax as a clinical decision Science. “Seamless use and real-time array of attributes across multiple
they receive regular cognitive assess- support screening tool for assessing cog- interpretation will enhance case manage- domains of the human system and func-
ments. nitive impairment. ment and patient care through innova- tional behaviors of brain health,
Many traditional memory assessment Results of the study, published in the tive technology and practical and readily informed and strategically directed
tools are widely available to health pro- Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, introduce usable integrated clinical applications advanced data mining, supervised
fessionals, though deficiencies in screen- supervised machine learning as a modern that could be developed into a hand-held machine learning, and robust analytics
ing and detection accuracy and reliability approach and new value-added comple- device and app.” can be integral, and in fact necessary, for
remain prevalent. mentary tool in cognitive brain health For the study, the researchers used an health care providers to detect and antic-
But even with the increasingly favor- assessment and related patient care and existing dataset (18,395) from ipate further progression in this disease
able instrument MemTrax, a very simple management. HAPPYneuron. They examined answers and myriad other aspects of cognitive
online memory test using images recog- Findings demonstrate the potential to general health screening questions impairment.”
nition, the clinical efficacy of this new valid clinical utility of MemTrax, admin- (addressing memory, sleep quality, med- AD is the sixth leading cause of death
approach as a memory function screen- istered as part of the online Continuous ications, and medical conditions affect- in the United States, affecting 5.8 million
ing tool has not been sufficiently demon- Recognition Tasks (M-CRT) test, in ing thinking), demographic information, Americans. According to the Alzheimer’s
strated or validated. In practice, there are screening for variations in cognitive and test results from a sample of adults Association, this number is projected to
numerous integrated and complex fac- brain health. Notably, a comparison of who took the MemTrax (M-CRT) test for rise to 14 million by 2050. In 2019, AD
tors to consider in interpreting memory MemTrax to the recognized and widely episodic-memory screening. MemTrax and other dementias will cost the nation
evaluation test results, which presents a utilized Montreal Cognitive Assessment performance and participant features $290 billion. By 2050, these costs could
real challenge for clinicians. All these fac- Estimation of mild cognitive impairment were used as independent attributes: true rise as high as $1.1 trillion.
tors stand as a collective barrier to suit- underscores the power and potential of positive/negative, percent responses/cor- “With its widespread prevalence and
ably addressing the growing and wide- this new online tool and approach in rect, response time, age, sex, and recent escalating incidence and public health
spread prevalence of AD and those affect- evaluating short-term memory in diag- alcohol consumption. For predictive burden, it is imperative to ensure that the
ed by the disease. nostic support for cognitive screening modeling, they used demographic infor- tools clinicians use for testing and man-
Could artificial intelligence be the and assessment with a variety of clinical mation and test scores to predict binary aging Alzheimer’s disease and other relat-
solution for testing and managing this conditions and impairments including classification of the health-related ques- ed cognitive conditions are optimal,”
complex human health condition? A dementia. tions (yes/no) and general health status said Stella Batalama, Ph.D., dean of FAU’s
team of researchers at Florida Atlantic “Machine learning has an inherent (healthy/unhealthy), based on the College of Engineering and Computer
University’s College of Engineering and capacity to reveal meaningful patterns screening questions. Science. “Results from this important
Computer Science, SIVOTEC Analytics, and insights from a large, complex inter- “Findings from our study provide an study provide new insights and discovery
HAPPYneuron, MemTrax, and Stanford dependent array of clinical determinants important step in advancing the that has set the stage for future impactful
University School of Medicine, think so, and the ability to continue to ‘learn’ from approach for clinically managing a very and significant research.”

Cover Story: The Future Is Closer Than You Think

Continued from page 1 Handheld devices, however, are just able discharging patients after shorter
treatment recommendations or as com- the tip of the technology iceberg. Here’s hospital stays.
plex as a medical assistant making a some of what is already here or can be • Connected devices – Phones, tele-
house call with the equipment to provide expected in the not-too-distant future: health carts, and suitcases packed with
an in-depth, virtual clinical evaluation. • Artificial Intelligence – AI will help medical equipment will provide greater
While any services delivered remotely humans triage patients and use data to interoperability, which simplifies and
using electronic communications or soft- predict what populations are at-risk for connects platforms by sharing informa-
ware fit under the technology umbrella, specific conditions. It will ask questions tion and increasing efficiencies.
it’s my belief we’ll soon take another and follow-up based on the patient’s • Asynchronous communications –
quantum leap forward. feedback. While much of telehealth is conducted in
It’s estimated that nearly 80% of • Chat bots – Similar to AI with its real time, we’ll also see more communi-
Americans use smartphones on a daily ability to ask a series of pertinent ques- cation via secure portals in non-emer-
basis. Applications found on nearly every tions, chat bots will take over the regis- gency situations. Medical teams may Bill Manzie
device can have powerful implications tration process as new patients enter the email a list of tasks they want done with providers employing the latest telehealth
when integrated strategically into tele- system. patients replying as they are completed. strategies remains an issue, it won’t stop
health. If you were to have a stroke in • Remote Patient Monitoring – • 5G mobile technology – Just as cur- progress. That’s because our focus is
South Broward county, for example, it’s Enabling patients to take a more active rently-available Internet service is faster more on cost savings and cost avoidance,
likely your chances of recovery would be role in their health program, RPM pro- and more reliable than the dial-up tech- for both patients and providers, and less
significantly improved through a vides real time clinical data, such as nology of the past, 5G will provide a sim- on revenue generation.
FaceTime-like connection. That’s measuring oxygen saturation or weight ilar level of improvement.
because EMTs responding to 911 calls in cardiac patients, and also assigns tasks • Expanded broadband – While not
now visually connect stroke victims with for individuals to accomplish, including much of an issue in South Florida, rural Bill Manzie is Administrative Director of
neurointerventional surgeons, enabling setting exercise goals and monitoring communities throughout the U.S. will Telehealth Strategy for Memorial
the doctor to make accurate assessments food intake. have greater access to cable-type Internet Healthcare System and former member of
of the situation, real-time recommenda- • Hospital at home – Knowing they (by mandate of the FCC), connecting Florida Governor Rick Scott’s Telehealth
tions, and preparations in the cath lab for can reliably monitor patients in their areas currently off-the-grid. Advisory Council. He can be reached at
the incoming patient. homes, providers will be more comfort- While reimbursement for healthcare (954) 276-1425 or wmanzie@mhs.net.

Coming Next Month...

• Profiles in Leadership & Administration • Healthcare Professionals Associations
• Education Update – New Programs in Healthcare Education • Outsourcing Update • Revenue Cycle Software Trends

For advertising information call Charles Felix at 561-368-6950 or email charles@southfloridahospitalnews.com

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