With a new $6.2 million, five-year grant from the National Institute on Aging, researchers at Case Western Reserve University will use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to identify genetic targets that could potentially treat Alzheimer’s disease.
The goal is to provide doctors and drug companies with new information that can prevent, delay or even treat disease, said lead researcher Jonathan L. Haines, chair of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine.
Drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat Alzheimer’s disease work by removing abnormal protein clumps called amyloid plaques that accumulate between nerve cells (neurons) in the brain and interfere with communication between them.
Although drugs may slow cognitive decline in mild cases, they often have serious side effects and do not address the root cause of the disease.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s disease now kills more people in the United States each year than breast and prostate cancers combined.
Haynes and his research team believe the answer lies in our DNA. By following the genetic roadmap, they will use AI and machine learning for the first time to test more than 1,800 potential genes that have been identified as new targets for treatment.
We plan to leverage the power of large-scale whole-genome datasets from two of the world’s most comprehensive Alzheimer’s disease genetic research efforts: the Alzheimer’s Disease Sequencing Project and the Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics Consortium. ”
Jonathan L. Haynes, Chair, Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Preparatory School of Medicine
These datasets combine information from diverse populations, making any findings nationally and racially and ethnically relevant.
Advanced computational tools, AI, and machine learning enable teams to use algorithms and statistical models to analyze patterns in data and draw inferences from it. More specifically, they want to identify the genetic mutations that cause the disease.
“At the end of this five-year project, we will provide drug developers and clinicians with a list of genetically validated, high-priority drug targets to build the next generation of Alzheimer’s disease treatments,” Haynes said.
sauce:
Case Western Reserve University
