scholarly journals A clinically-translatable machine learning algorithm for the prediction of Alzheimer’s disease conversion: further evidence of its accuracy via a transfer learning approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (07) ◽  
pp. 937-945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimiliano Grassi ◽  
David A. Loewenstein ◽  
Daniela Caldirola ◽  
Koen Schruers ◽  
Ranjan Duara ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackground:In a previous study, we developed a highly performant and clinically-translatable machine learning algorithm for a prediction of three-year conversion to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Pre-mild Cognitive Impairment. Further tests are necessary to demonstrate its accuracy when applied to subjects not used in the original training process. In this study, we aimed to provide preliminary evidence of this via a transfer learning approach.Methods:We initially employed the same baseline information (i.e. clinical and neuropsychological test scores, cardiovascular risk indexes, and a visual rating scale for brain atrophy) and the same machine learning technique (support vector machine with radial-basis function kernel) used in our previous study to retrain the algorithm to discriminate between participants with AD (n = 75) and normal cognition (n = 197). Then, the algorithm was applied to perform the original task of predicting the three-year conversion to AD in the sample of 61 MCI subjects that we used in the previous study.Results:Even after the retraining, the algorithm demonstrated a significant predictive performance in the MCI sample (AUC = 0.821, 95% CI bootstrap = 0.705–0.912, best balanced accuracy = 0.779, sensitivity = 0.852, specificity = 0.706).Conclusions:These results provide a first indirect evidence that our original algorithm can also perform relevant generalized predictions when applied to new MCI individuals. This motivates future efforts to bring the algorithm to sufficient levels of optimization and trustworthiness that will allow its application in both clinical and research settings.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimiliano Grassi ◽  
Nadine Rouleaux ◽  
Daniela Caldirola ◽  
David Loewenstein ◽  
Koen Schruers ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackgroundDespite the increasing availability in brain health related data, clinically translatable methods to predict the conversion from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are still lacking. Although MCI typically precedes AD, only a fraction of 20-40% of MCI individuals will progress to dementia within 3 years following the initial diagnosis. As currently available and emerging therapies likely have the greatest impact when provided at the earliest disease stage, the prompt identification of subjects at high risk for conversion to full AD is of great importance in the fight against this disease. In this work, we propose a highly predictive machine learning algorithm, based only on non-invasively and easily in-the-clinic collectable predictors, to identify MCI subjects at risk for conversion to full AD.MethodsThe algorithm was developed using the open dataset from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), employing a sample of 550 MCI subjects whose diagnostic follow-up is available for at least 3 years after the baseline assessment. A restricted set of information regarding sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, neuropsychological test scores was used as predictors and several different supervised machine learning algorithms were developed and ensembled in final algorithm. A site-independent stratified train/test split protocol was used to provide an estimate of the generalized performance of the algorithm.ResultsThe final algorithm demonstrated an AUROC of 0.88, sensitivity of 77.7%, and a specificity of 79.9% on excluded test data. The specificity of the algorithm was 40.2% for 100% sensitivity.DiscussionThe algorithm we developed achieved sound and high prognostic performance to predict AD conversion using easily clinically derived information that makes the algorithm easy to be translated into practice. This indicates beneficial application to improve recruitment in clinical trials and to more selectively prescribe new and newly emerging early interventions to high AD risk patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio Grueso ◽  
Raquel Viejo-Sobera

Abstract Background An increase in lifespan in our society is a double-edged sword that entails a growing number of patients with neurocognitive disorders, Alzheimer’s disease being the most prevalent. Advances in medical imaging and computational power enable new methods for the early detection of neurocognitive disorders with the goal of preventing or reducing cognitive decline. Computer-aided image analysis and early detection of changes in cognition is a promising approach for patients with mild cognitive impairment, sometimes a prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s disease dementia. Methods We conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines of studies where machine learning was applied to neuroimaging data in order to predict whether patients with mild cognitive impairment might develop Alzheimer’s disease dementia or remain stable. After removing duplicates, we screened 452 studies and selected 116 for qualitative analysis. Results Most studies used magnetic resonance image (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) data but also magnetoencephalography. The datasets were mainly extracted from the Alzheimer’s disease neuroimaging initiative (ADNI) database with some exceptions. Regarding the algorithms used, the most common was support vector machine with a mean accuracy of 75.4%, but convolutional neural networks achieved a higher mean accuracy of 78.5%. Studies combining MRI and PET achieved overall better classification accuracy than studies that only used one neuroimaging technique. In general, the more complex models such as those based on deep learning, combined with multimodal and multidimensional data (neuroimaging, clinical, cognitive, genetic, and behavioral) achieved the best performance. Conclusions Although the performance of the different methods still has room for improvement, the results are promising and this methodology has a great potential as a support tool for clinicians and healthcare professionals.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Zhe Huang ◽  
Minglang Sun ◽  
Chengan Guo

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible neurodegenerative disease, and, at present, once it has been diagnosed, there is no effective curative treatment. Accurate and early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is crucial for improving the condition of patients since effective preventive measures can be taken in advance to delay the onset time of the disease. 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET : PET) is an effective biomarker of the symptom of AD and has been used as medical imaging data for diagnosing AD. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is regarded as an early symptom of AD, and it has been shown that MCI also has a certain biomedical correlation with PET. In this paper, we explore how to use 3D PET images to realize the effective recognition of MCI and thus achieve the early prediction of AD. This problem is then taken as the classification of three categories of PET images, including MCI, AD, and NC (normal controls). In order to get better classification performance, a novel network model is proposed in the paper based on 3D convolution neural networks (CNN) and support vector machines (SVM) by utilizing both the excellent abilities of CNN in feature extraction and SVM in classification. In order to make full use of the optimal property of SVM in solving binary classification problems, the three-category classification problem is divided into three binary classifications, and each binary classification is being realized with a CNN + SVM network. Then, the outputs of the three CNN + SVM networks are fused into a final three-category classification result. An end-to-end learning algorithm is developed to train the CNN + SVM networks, and a decision fusion algorithm is exploited to realize the fusion of the outputs of three CNN + SVM networks. Experimental results obtained in the work with comparative analyses confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio Grueso ◽  
Raquel Viejo-Sobera

Abstract Background: Increase in life-span in our society is a double-edged sword that entails a growing number of patients with neurocognitive disorders, Alzheimer’s disease being the most prevalent. Advances in medical imaging and computational power, enable new methods for early detection of neurocognitive disorders with the goal of preventing or reducing cognitive decline. Computer-aided image analysis and early detection of changes in cognition is a promising approach for patients with mild cognitive impairment, sometimes a prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s disease.Methods: We conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines of studies where Machine Learning was applied to neuroimaging data in order to predict the progression from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer’s disease. After removing duplicates, we screened 159 studies and selected 47 for a qualitative analysis. Results: Most studies used Magnetic Resonance Image and Positron Emission Tomography data but also Magnetoencephalography. The datasets were mainly extracted from the Alzheimer’s disease Neuroimage Initiative (ADNI) database with some exceptions. Regarding the algorithms used, the most common were support vector machines, but more complex models such as Deep Learning, combined with multimodal and multidimensional data (neuroimaging, clinical, cognitive, biological, and behavioral) achieved the best performance. Conclusions: Although performance of the different models still has room for improvement, the results are promising and this methodology has a great potential as a support tool for clinicians and healthcare professionals.


2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 38-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chavit Tunvirachaisakul ◽  
Thitiporn Supasitthumrong ◽  
Sookjareon Tangwongchai ◽  
Solaphat Hemrunroj ◽  
Phenphichcha Chuchuen ◽  
...  

Background: The Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD) developed a neuropsychological battery (CERAD-NP) to screen patients with Alzheimer’s dementia. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has received attention as a pre-dementia stage. Objectives: To delineate the CERAD-NP features of MCI and their clinical utility to externally validate MCI diagnosis. Methods: The study included 60 patients with MCI, diagnosed using the Clinical Dementia Rating, and 63 normal controls. Data were analysed employing receiver operating characteristic analysis, Linear Support Vector Machine, Random Forest, Adaptive Boosting, Neural Network models, and t-distributed stochastic neighbour embedding (t-SNE). Results: MCI patients were best discriminated from normal controls using a combination of Wordlist Recall, Wordlist Memory, and Verbal Fluency Test. Machine learning showed that the CERAD features learned from MCI patients and controls were not strongly predictive of the diagnosis (maximal cross-validation 77.2%), whilst t-SNE showed that there is a considerable overlap between MCI and controls. Conclusions: The most important features of the CERAD-NP differentiating MCI from normal controls indicate impairments in episodic and semantic memory and recall. While these features significantly discriminate MCI patients from normal controls, the tests are not predictive of MCI.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio Grueso ◽  
Raquel Viejo-Sobera

Increase in life-span in our society is a double-edged sword that entails a growing number of patients with neurocognitive disorders, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) being the most prevalent. Advances in medical imaging and computational power, enable new methods for early detection of neurocognitive disorders with the goal of preventing or reducing cognitive decline. Computer-aided image analysis and early detection of changes in cognition is a promising approach for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), sometimes a prodromal stage of AD. We conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines of studies where Machine Learning was applied to neuroimaging data in order to predict the progression from MCI to AD. After removing duplicates, we screened 159 studies and selected 47 for a qualitative analysis. Most studies used MRI and PET data but also MEG. The datasets were mainly extracted from the ADNI database with some exceptions. Regarding the algorithms used, the most common were support vector machines, but more complex models such as Deep Learning, combined with multimodal and multidimensional data (neuroimage, clinical, cognitive, biological, and behavioral) achieved the best performance. Although performance of the different models still have room for improvement, the results are promising and this methodology has a great potential as a support tool for clinicians and healthcare professionals.


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