The study, led by Dr Jie Lian and colleagues from the Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health and the Department of Psychiatry, applied advanced artificial intelligence techniques to routine healthcare data to analyse patterns in how these conditions develop and progress.
The growing public health challenge
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s represent a significant and growing societal challenge. Alzheimer’s disease is rapidly becoming one of the most costly and debilitating conditions of the twenty-first century.
Parkinson’s disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, affects approximately 2–3% of adults over the age of 65.
More than 3 billion people were living with a neurological condition in 2021, resulting in an estimated 443 million healthy life years lost due to illness, disability or premature death.
As ageing is a key determinant in the development of neurodegenerative diseases and populations worldwide continue to age, the overall burden of these conditions is expected to rise. This makes advancing understanding and developing effective interventions increasingly important.
Read the full story on the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health website.