Researchers from the United Kingdom are collaborating to utilize artificial intelligence (AI)-based software and anonymized eye scans to determine the potential risk for degenerative diseases and brain health indicators.
Let’s start with these researchers.
This collaboration features the NeurEYE research team—composed of researchers from the University of Edinburgh and Glasgow Caledonian University.
About NeurEYE: This project is the second to be funded by NEURii, first launched in 2023 and described as a “first-of-its-kind global collaboration” between:
- Eisai (a Japanese pharmaceutical company)
- Gate Ventures (a strategic finance advisory firm)
- University of Edinburgh (Edinburgh Innovations)
- LifeArc (a British science medical research charity)
- Health Data Research UK (national health data science institute)
And NeurEYE’s purpose?
The collaboration seeks to deliver initial “patient-focused digital health solutions” by “combining diverse digital biomarkers acquired non-invasively in real world clinical and non-clinical settings with the high-quality and abundant medical data accumulated in the UK, and analyzing them with tailored AI algorithms,” according to the partners.
Watch below for a rundown.
- To note: Their first project (Scottish AI in Neuroimaging to predict Dementia and Neurodegenerative Disease [SCAN-DAN]) is focused on using AI and brain scans to predict the risk for dementia.
Now this project.
Investigators have collected nearly 1 million retinal imaging scans from optometrists in commercial practices (AKA “high-street opticians”) from across Scotland to develop the largest dataset of its kind.
- Once collected: All images were uploaded to the Scottish National Safe Haven, which provides a secure platform for the research use of the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) electronic data.
The plan: To analyze image data using AI and machine learning, “linking to relevant patient data on demographics, treatment history, and pre-existing conditions.”
- About this data: Though “anonymised,” the intent is for investigators to identify patterns that may indicate a patient’s risk for developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or dementia—and provide a big-picture overview of brain health.
Explain this AI component.
According to NeurEYE co-lead Miguel Bernabeu, a professor of Computational Medicine at the University of Edinburgh’s Usher Institute:
- In order to develop AI algorithms that are “equitable and unbiased,” they must be trained on a dataset representative of the whole population of patients at risk for neurodegenerative diseases.
- The idea is that combining the university’s extensive research on ethical AI with this retinal imaging dataset “can bring a step change in early detection of dementia for all,” he stated.
Why zero in on these neurodegenerative diseases?
Quite simply: Because they’re closely linked to vision loss.
For instance: The UK’s Alzheimer's Society reported: “Research shows that people with vision loss are about 50% more likely to develop dementia than people without vision loss.”
In fact: Research published in 2022 from a U.S. National Institute of Aging-funded longitudinal study found one of the top preventative actions that may reduce the risk for Alzheimer’s and related dementias is getting vision problems corrected.
- Plus: See here for findings from a more recent study connecting dementia to visual decline.
That’s concerning. So how exactly do optometrists come back into play?
By utilizing this AI-based, predictive software with which the dataset is designed.
Specifically: During routine eye exams, the expectation is for optometrists to use the software as a predictive or diagnostic triage tool to refer patients to a specialty healthcare professional if any signs of brain disease are detected.
“The blood vessels and neural pathways of [the] retina and brain are intimately related,” stated Balijean Dhillon, co-lead of NeurEYE and professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at the University of Edinburgh. “But, unlike the brain, we can see the retina with the simple, inexpensive equipment found in every high street [commercial eyecare practice) in the UK and beyond. ”
Sounds promising. And what’s the hope behind this?
A few intended outcomes:
- Identifying patients at risk for such neurodegenerative diseases could potentially help accelerate the development of new treatments—and enable better monitoring of treatment responses.
In addition, this awareness may also enable patients and their HCPs to implement lifestyle changes to help mitigate their risk for disease development.