Neurological Awareness
A Forgotten Name One Morning: How Dementia Touches Our Everyday Lives
Imagine the worry in the eyes of a young woman who, years ago, saw her mother frantically trying to remember her name in the kitchen one morning. At that moment, words slowly begin to disappear, and familiar faces become blurred. Dementia is a word that has left a painful mark in the family albums or memory books of many of us. It is estimated that approximately 55 million people currently live with dementia worldwide, and this number is expected to almost double by 2050.[1]
So, while we may not be able to bring back those lost voices or memories, can we, by noticing it early, change the course of the story, even just a little? We are at a turning point where artificial intelligence (AI) opens doors to new, unexplored hopes. The revolutionary potential of AI in dementia diagnosis is not just a medical achievement, but also a new circle of hope for families.
What is Dementia and Why is Early Diagnosis So Important?
Dementia is the deterioration of memory, cognitive functions, communication, and daily living skills. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause, but there are also vascular, frontotemporal, and Lewy body types among others. With each step, another memory, another ability is lost.
Early diagnosis is critical for developing appropriate treatment and care strategies, and for improving the quality of life of patients and their families. Dementia is progressive and usually begins insidiously. Mild forgetfulness, behavioral changes, difficulty finding words—many people dismiss these as a “natural part of aging.” However, with early diagnosis, medications and supportive strategies that can slow disease progression become available.
Traditional Dementia Diagnosis: Difficulties and Limitations
Today, diagnosing dementia is a multi-step process requiring expertise:
Clinical interview: The patient’s story and that of their relatives are gathered, with questions about forgetfulness and behavioral changes.
Neuropsychological tests: Classical assessments (MMSE, MOCA, etc.) of memory, attention, language, and more.
Imaging methods: MRI/Brain CT scans are used to investigate brain shrinkage and vascular changes.
Blood tests and other assessments: Secondary causes (vitamin B12 deficiency, thyroid disorders, etc.) are ruled out.
However, this process is often time-consuming and expensive. Subtle changes in the early stages may go undetected, leading to errors from subjective evaluation. Globally, nearly 70% of patients either do not receive a diagnosis or are diagnosed too late.[2]
What is Artificial Intelligence? Why Does It Make a Difference in Brain Health?
Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to systems that imitate human intelligence and recognize patterns by processing big data. With subfields like "machine learning" and "deep learning," AI can analyze massive and highly complex datasets at incredible speed, uncovering details the human eye may miss.
In the insidious onset of dementia, things like tiny changes in imaging results, slight delays in speech, micro-expressions on the face, or how someone draws a clock with a pen—all combine into a giant, interwoven dataset. AI is a unique helper in deciphering these complex patterns.
Dementia Diagnosis with Artificial Intelligence: How Does It Work?
Analysis of Brain Images
Data obtained from standard MRI or CT scans are fed into AI algorithms. Deep learning models can detect millimetric tissue changes and volume losses in brain regions invisible to the naked eye.
Digital Tests & Sensory Analysis
In computer-based neuropsychological tests, response times, tone of voice, word selection, spelling mistakes, and even facial expressions can be assessed by AI. Data from daily activities tracked by smartwatches, wearable sensors, or phone apps are also highly valuable.
Biomarker Analysis
Biochemical results from blood, urine, or cerebrospinal fluid can be cross-analyzed by AI to create new risk profiles.
The common benefit of all these approaches is early detection, reduced error rate, and faster, more cost-effective diagnostic processes.
Scientific Research and Current Data
There is a growing body of research demonstrating AI’s power in dementia diagnosis. Here are some highlights:
A 2019 study showed that deep learning algorithms analyzing brain MR data achieved 94% accuracy in early Alzheimer’s diagnosis.[3]
A meta-analysis published in 2022 found that AI-based clinical and speech analysis offered earlier and more sensitive diagnoses than classical tests.[4]
AI-based neuroimaging analyses can reduce the average diagnosis time for Alzheimer’s by up to 18 months.[5]
Cambridge University’s 2023 data: AI assessment with natural speech analysis can identify at-risk individuals even in the preclinical phase, before the illness reaches clinical levels.[6]
Advantages: Why Is AI-Based Diagnosis Promising?
Early and Rapid Diagnosis: By catching subtle clues, AI makes diagnosis possible before the clinical picture fully emerges.
Reduced Error Rates: It lowers human error and bias.
Personalized Approach: Different risk profiles can be created for each patient.
Cost and Time Savings: Significant savings in time and resources, especially in busy healthcare systems.
Accessibility: With smartphones and digital tools, even people in disadvantaged regions can be reached.
AI’s Limitations and Ethical Questions
As promising as it is, artificial intelligence is not a cure-all at this stage:
Data Security and Privacy: The confidentiality of health data and the need for ethically trained algorithms are topics of ongoing debate.
Lack of Validation and Standardization: AI models need to be validated across different populations and cultural contexts. Universal standards are still lacking.
Lack of Human Touch: In complex diseases with strong emotional components like dementia, communication with family is as important as diagnosis. AI cannot replace empathy and a humane approach.
What AI Means for Society and Families
Dementia is not just an individual's ordeal but a test for the whole family. For a loved one, a delayed diagnosis can mean a combination of anxiety, guilt, and hopelessness. AI-supported diagnosis can buy precious time for early detection and care planning at the community level.
As a professor said: "AI builds a bridge between hope and despair. It increases our chance of preserving memories not yet lost."
No technology can replace human love, patience, or trust, but it can magnify our beacon of hope. The best results with AI come when it is combined with the warmth of the human touch.
The Future and Questions: How Will AI Change Lives?
Predictions suggest that the dementia diagnosis process will become largely digital in the future. Smart tests in clinics and at home, AI-powered mobile apps, wearable health devices, and even early warning systems based on speech analysis are likely to become routine.
Nevertheless, to make technology universally accessible, ensure data security, and establish ethical standards, broad societal cooperation is necessary. In Turkey and worldwide, both legal and infrastructural regulations in these areas are rapidly developing.
Conclusion: Artificial Intelligence – Revolution or Support?
The increasing use of AI in dementia diagnosis is sometimes the start of a revolution, and at other times, a sensitive support tool. Scientific data shows that AI reduces misdiagnosis rates, makes healthcare more accessible, and improves quality of life through early diagnosis.
If you want to see a familiar smile on your mother’s, father’s, or loved one’s face for longer, to share one more memory or word, giving AI a chance might be a story we all share.
Resources
Next Blogs Post
