Early Alzheimer's Diagnosis?

[George K]

https://spectrum.ieee.org/ai-to-detect-alzheimers

A company called Canary Speech is creating technology to do just that. Using deep learning, its algorithms analyze short voice samples for signs of Alzheimer’s and other conditions. Deep learning provider Syntiant recently announced a collaboration with Canary Speech, which will allow Canary to take a technology that is mostly used in doctor’s offices and hospitals into a person’s home via a medical device. While some research has found deep learning techniques using voice and other types of data to be highly accurate in classifying those with Alzheimer’s and other conditions in a lab setting, it’s possible the results would be different in the real world. Nevertheless, AI and deep learning techniques could become helpful tools in making a difficult diagnosis.

[Doctor Phibes]

This might seem like a silly question, but do we always want to know?

We (i.e. everybody other than my mum) all knew that my mother had mild and increasing dementia, however once she got the official diagnosis it caused her a great deal of anxiety, and seemed to rather increase the speed of her decline. Although it meant that we were able to get more official help, it was very much a mixed blessing.

[George K]

@doctor-phibes said in Early Alzheimer's Diagnosis?:

This might seem like a silly question, but do we always want to know?

We've talked about this in the past with regard to Huntington's Chorea and other genetic diseases.

For the patient, I'm not sure it makes all that much difference. For the family, however, it might make planning, decision making etc a bit easier.

[Doctor Phibes]

@george-k said in Early Alzheimer's Diagnosis?:

For the patient, I'm not sure it makes all that much difference.

I would definitely have preferred that my mother hadn't been told about the dementia. She spent half her life worrying about it after the diagnosis.

[Copper]

I think I would use the time to prepare, which would allow me to stop worrying.

I could see people wanting or not wanting to know.

[LuFins Dad]

Without early diagnosis can we ever really develop an effective early treatment?