Researchers at the University of Sheffield in the UK have developed a ground-breaking artificial intelligence-powered tool called CognoSpeak that seeks to change the identification of dementia, Alzheimer's, and other memory diseases.

CognoSpeak has a great deal of promise for precisely detecting indicators of cognitive decline by examining a person's speech and language patterns. Early testing revealed an accuracy rate of 90%, comparable to conventional "pen-and-paper tests," Fox News reported.

Patients may communicate with a virtual agent using CognoSpeak's user-friendly interface while running on their desktop, laptop, or tablet. Unlike in-person consultations, usually, the virtual agent provides memory-related questions and activities, such as describing visuals and gauging verbal fluency.

The patient's language and speech patterns are then analyzed by CognoSpeak's cutting-edge AI technology, allowing the identification of cognitive warning indicators.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research has provided funds for researchers to test CognoSpeak on 700 individuals from memory clinics in the United Kingdom.

The ultimate objective of CognoSpeak is to function as a "middleman" between general practitioners and dementia experts to assist in a quicker diagnosis. Moreover, the AI-powered tool has the potential to shorten waiting periods, provide patients and their families with clarity early, and allow immediate treatment to start.

AI Tool To Significantly Impact Treatment Strategy

Incorporating CognoSpeak into the diagnostic procedure helps reduce anxiety as patients wait for a dementia diagnosis. Dr. Dan Blackburn from the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Sheffield noted that the tool might hasten the start of treatment, shorten wait times, and maximize the time of medical staff members, ensuring that individuals who need specialized care get it right away.

Therapy Box, a business specializing in speech and language technologies, and the NIHR Devices for Dignity MedTech Cooperative (D4D) joined to create CognoSpeak, according to News Medical Life Sciences. These collaborations ensure that patients from various backgrounds-including ethnic minority populations and non-native English speakers who would be less inclined to use dementia services-can accept, trust, and utilize the AI technology.

The need for precise and effective diagnostic techniques is growing since there are already 900,000 dementia sufferers in the UK, and the Alzheimer's Society predicts that number will almost quadruple by 2040. Long waiting lists and rising referral rates brought challenges to memory clinics.

Read Also: CDC Study Reveals Surge in E-cigarette Sales and Youth Use in US 

To overcome this obstacle and enhance the lives of people with dementia and Alzheimer's disease, CognoSpeak gives hope.

Alzheimer's Drug To Get FDA Clearance Soon

In related news, Lecanemab (Leqembi), the first medication proved to reduce the course of Alzheimer's disease, is anticipated to get final clearance from the Food and Drug Administration by July 6, according to NPR.

Over a million Medicare patients with early-stage Alzheimer's may have access to lecanemab if authorized. However, substantially fewer individuals than first projected may use the medication.

Dr. David Rind, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review's chief medical officer, believes there is unlikely to be a sudden increase in demand from such a large patient group. Instead, hundreds of thousands of people are anticipated to seek lecanemab therapy.

Lecanemab's introduction might be hampered by several issues, such as more paperwork for doctors and a dearth of specialists in diagnosing and treating Alzheimer's patients.

Based on its capacity to eliminate amyloid-beta, a protein linked to Alzheimer's disease, from the brains of people still in the early stages of the illness, lecanemab was granted provisional FDA clearance in January. 

Related Article: Women's Use of Menopause Treatment May Increase Dementia Risk, Study Claims