#alzheimersresearch

[d0nutzgg]

Predicting Alzheimer's With Machine Learning

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Early diagnosis is crucial for managing the disease and potentially slowing its progression. My interest in this area is deeply personal. My great grandmother, Bonnie, passed away from Alzheimer's in 2000, and my grandmother, Jonette, who is Bonnie's daughter, is currently exhibiting symptoms of the disease. This personal connection has motivated me to apply my skills as a data scientist to contribute to the ongoing research in Alzheimer's disease.

Model Creation

The first step in creating the model was to identify relevant features that could potentially influence the onset of Alzheimer's disease. After careful consideration, I chose the following features: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), Socioeconomic Status (SES), and Normalized Whole Brain Volume (nWBV).

MMSE: This is a commonly used test for cognitive function and mental status. Lower scores on the MMSE can indicate severe cognitive impairment, a common symptom of Alzheimer's.

CDR: This is a numeric scale used to quantify the severity of symptoms of dementia. A higher CDR score can indicate more severe dementia.

SES: Socioeconomic status has been found to influence health outcomes, including cognitive function and dementia.

nWBV: This represents the volume of the brain, adjusted for head size. A decrease in nWBV can be indicative of brain atrophy, a common symptom of Alzheimer's.

After selecting these features, I used a combination of Logistic Regression and Random Forest Classifier models in a Stacking Classifier to predict the onset of Alzheimer's disease. The model was trained on a dataset with these selected features and then tested on a separate dataset to evaluate its performance.

Model Performance

To validate the model's performance, I used a ROC curve plot (below), as well as a cross-validation accuracy scoring mechanism.

The ROC curve (Receiver Operating Characteristic curve) is a plot that illustrates the diagnostic ability of a model as its discrimination threshold is varied. It is great for visualizing the accuracy of binary classification models. The curve is created by plotting the true positive rate (TPR) against the false positive rate (FPR) at various threshold settings.

The area under the ROC curve, often referred to as the AUC (Area Under the Curve), provides a measure of the model's ability to distinguish between positive and negative classes. The AUC can be interpreted as the probability that the model will rank a randomly chosen positive instance higher than a randomly chosen negative one.

The AUC value ranges from 0 to 1. An AUC of 0.5 suggests no discrimination (i.e., the model has no ability to distinguish between positive and negative classes), 1 represents perfect discrimination (i.e., the model has perfect ability to distinguish between positive and negative classes), and 0 represents total misclassification.

The model's score of an AUC of 0.98 is excellent. It suggests that the model has a very high ability to distinguish between positive and negative classes.

The model also performed extremely well in another test, which showed the model has a final cross-validation score of 0.953. This high score indicates that the model was able to accurately predict the onset of Alzheimer's disease based on the selected features.

However, it's important to note that while this model can be a useful tool for predicting Alzheimer's disease, it should not be the sole basis for a diagnosis. Doctors should consider all aspects of diagnostic information when making a diagnosis.

Conclusion

The development and application of machine learning models like this one are revolutionizing the medical field. They offer the potential for early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, which can significantly improve patient outcomes. However, these models are tools to assist healthcare professionals, not replace them. The human element in medicine, including a comprehensive understanding of the patient's health history and symptoms, remains crucial.

Despite the challenges, the potential of machine learning models in improving early diagnosis leaves me and my family hopeful. As we continue to advance in technology and research, we move closer to a world where diseases like Alzheimer's can be effectively managed, and hopefully, one day, cured.

[impossiblebluebirdheart]

[nursing-and-wellness23]

A recent study conducted on mice has revealed a surprising connection between nose-picking behavior and Alzheimer's disease. The research suggests that chronic nose-picking may contribute to the development of Alzheimer's by introducing harmful bacteria into the brain. While further studies are needed to confirm these findings in humans, this intriguing link highlights the importance of maintaining good hygiene practices and underscores the need for continued research into the causes and prevention of Alzheimer's disease.

[marketresearchlayer]

[drugcarts]

Welcome to this video, where we'll explore the complexities of Alzheimer's disease, a condition that affects millions worldwide. Alzheimer's is a progressive neurological disorder, most often diagnosed in older adults.

[nishp]

💜🧠 Remembering and Honoring: World Alzheimer's Day 🧠💜

On September 21st, we come together to raise awareness, show support, and extend our compassion to those affected by Alzheimer's disease. It's World Alzheimer's Day, a day of reflection and unity in the fight against this challenging condition. We must continue to learn, to advocate, and to care. Let's join hands to support Alzheimer's research, promote early diagnosis, and enhance the quality of life for those affected.

[farehamflorist]

Sharing this for one of our lovely customers; she's organising a ball for the 25th March to try and raise as much as she can for Alzheimers Society. She originally had it 'all systems go' then Covid hit, lock down happened and it had to be put 'on hold'. As you can see (below) it's a great price for everything that's included. Maybe some of you lovely bosses want to treat your staff to a night out, or if you're stuck looking for a Mothers Day gift - once you've ordered your flowers with us, of course😉- you could treat her to a lovely meal with some dancing! Or you could even just treat yourself especially with a dress code that's sure to brighten up the evening - with the weather as it is right now we could all use a little cheer; you'll have a good night whilst helping to raise much needed funds for a good cause. Tickets: £45 each or £400 for a table of 10. Includes: - Red carpet welcome - Welcome drink - Three course dinner (with coffee & mints) - Table favours - Drinks on table - 5-Piece Live Band & Disco - Raffle *Bespoke bloomin' marvellous cocktail on sale at the bar throughout the evening. *Optional silent auction on the night. Copy/Paste the link for more info, or to have a chat with Emma about it. https://www.facebook.com/events/403318925242955 She also has a 'day job' you could check out... @nouvellejewellery #alzheimers #alzheimerssociety #bloominmarvellousball #alzheimersresearch #fareham #farehamflorist #nouvellejewellry https://www.instagram.com/p/CphhtSAIuca/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Saffron Benefits For Memory Loss, Alzheimer's and Dementia

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[therealgutdoctor]

🌟 New Alzheimer's Breakthrough! 🌟 AI and genetics reveal how gut bacteria metabolites affect the brain, opening paths for innovative treatments. This cutting-edge research could transform our approach to Alzheimer's, emphasizing the critical gut-brain connection. Stay tuned! #AlzheimersResearch #GutBrainAxis #HealthInnovation #BrainHealth

[powerixnews]

The Future of Medical Science Defeating Incurable Diseases #MedicalScien...🔬 The Future of Medical Science: Defeating Incurable Diseases 👩 In recent years, medical science has made remarkable progress in treating once-fatal diseases like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's, diabetes, and obesity. Join us as we explore the groundbreaking advancements in medical technologies, targeted therapies, immunotherapy, new drugs, and surgical techniques that offer hope for defeating these diseases. From CRISPR to insulin therapies, the future of medical science looks promising. Watch to discover the latest achievements in the battle against incurable diseases. #MedicalScience #CancerTreatment #IncurableDiseases #FutureOfMedicine #HealthcareInnovations #DiseasePrevention #MedicalBreakthroughs #HeartHealth #AlzheimersResearch #DiabetesManagement #ObesityTreatment

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#AlzheimersResearch, #ScientificFraud, #DrShivaAyyadurai, #JoshuaTBerglan, #ResearchScandal, #MedicalEthics, #HealthcareFraud, #NIHFunding, #ScientificIntegrity, #BiomedicalResearch, #PhotoshoppedData, #AcademicDishonesty, #ScientificMisconduct, #HealthcareIndustry, #TransparencyInScience

[aimeebrabant]

“During these hard times...” Read about how Maria Shriver fights Alzheimer in today’s Blog: aimeebrabant.wixsite.com/aimeescorner #mariashriver#alzheimers #alzheimersawareness #alzheimersassociation #alzheimersucks #alzheimerdisease #alzheimerawarenessmonth #alzheimerscaregiver #alzheimerscare #alzheimersociety #alzheimersresearch #alzheimerssupport ##quotes #quoteoftheday #quotestagram #quotestoliveby #quotesoftheday #quotesdaily #quotesaboutlife #lifestyleblogger #lifestylebloggers https://www.instagram.com/p/CCumhvFnbvT/?igshid=84a7xazjpd39

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[realdrjaycalvert]

Thanks again to Dean Frank LaFerla for a great day at @UCI School of Biological Sciencea and the @ucimind Alzheimer’s Research Institute. I am absolutely on board and the cross over with the TBI issues we discuss so frequently on the @drhockeypodcast! More research is needed and more attention to prevention! Always more to do...Scroll through the photos and check out the brains! #alzheimersawareness #traumaticbraininjury #nhl #uci #drjaycalvert #alzheimersresearch #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #rhinoplasty #cosmeticsurgeon #beverlyhills #revisionrhinoplastyspecialist #secondaryrhinoplasty #rhinoplastybeforeandafter #vogue #aestheticsurgery #aesthetics #keepthemguessing #bestrhinoplastysurgeon #topplasticsurgeon #drcalvert #boardcertifiedplasticsurgeon (at UCI Campus, Aldrich Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7wAYkoH_yA/?igshid=skq8ay5iwivu