How AI is rapidly discovering drugs to treat brain conditions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nIn the rapidly evolving era of artificial intelligence, scientists are using it to accelerate drug development, uncovering treatments for neurological conditions that may be hidden in plain sight. <\/p>\n
However, researchers at the UK Dementia Research Institute in Edinburgh analyzed patient data, including voice recordings and eye scans, to determine whether existing medications might be switching therapeutics like motor neurone disease (MND). <\/p>\n
Steve Barrett, a trial participant who lived with MND for 10 years, shares his vision for the success of the project.<\/p>\n
MND is a terrible disease, it strips you of who you are,\u201d he told the BBC at his home in Alloa, Scotland.<\/p>\n
“It destroys any sense of a future you might feel you had planned for yourself \u2013 that’s all that goes on.”<\/p>\n
He says, “Research for me is more than taking a tablet \u2013 it’s taking a tablet with the intention of producing results, which may or may not help me, but may help others.”<\/p>\n
Established drugs are subsequently evaluated in multiple production lots using a combination of robots, conventional medical equipment and computer-powered expert algorithms. <\/p>\n
In particular, drugs that AI suggests are potentially effective could advance into clinical trials involving people like Steven.<\/p>\n
According to Professor Siddharthan Chandran, Chief Executive of the institute, it also proves to be effective for the brain and we do not know about it yet.<\/p>\n
The brain is the most complex organ in the body, so we have to grapple with the paradox of that complexity,\u201d he told the BBC \u2013 adding that until recently, this meant using less sophisticated methods of study.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe combination of AI and new technologies means we can now do things that would have been unbelievable when I was in medical school.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to some estimates, it may take 10 years or more to discover new drugs and bring them to market. However, Professor Chandran and his team believe that effective treatments for neurological conditions may be available to people. <\/p>\n
This discovery is not the first time how AI can unearth potential solutions hidden in mountains of health or medical data.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, Professor Chandran is convinced that \u201cwe are at a tipping point\u201d in neurological research.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n