New approach in Alzheimer's diagnostics

h_da team researches AI methods to detect the disease earlier.

There are currently around 1.8 million people living with dementia in Germany, most of whom have Alzheimer's disease. According to forecasts, the numbers will rise significantly unless there is a medical breakthrough in the next few years. Nevertheless, the first drug that specifically targets the protein deposits in the brain that are characteristic of Alzheimer's was approved in the USA last year. However, the new drug only helps if the disease is detected early. This is precisely where a team from the Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences comes in: In an EU-funded project, the scientists at h_da are working with partners in the Netherlands, the UK and Germany on new methods of diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. Their aim is to be able to detect the disease earlier and treat it more successfully as soon as appropriate drugs come onto the market.

Read the full article by Christina Janssen in the science magazine impact

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Contact the h_da science editorial team

Christina Janssen
Science Editor
University Communications
+49.6151.533-60112
christina.janssen@h-da.de

Portraits of Professors Weinmann and Gregori from the Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences h_da
Interdisciplinary team: mathematician Andreas Weinmann (left) is an expert in computer vision and AI, while physicist Johannes Gregori specializes in medical image processing. Both areas work together perfectly in the ASPIRE project. Image: h_da / Samira Schulz.
Five-member team from Darmstadt h_da University of Applied Sciences involved in the Aspire program.
"Promising field": PhD student Chiara Schmidt (center) has gained experience in the fields of computer vision and machine learning in the Optotechnology and Image Processing degree program. Now the medical aspect is being added. Image: h_da / Samira Schulz.
Prof. Gregori from the Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences h_da in front of a large monitor with a series of brain scans.
Detecting Alzheimer's earlier: By analyzing brain scans with the help of an AI system developed at h_da, the scientists want to develop new diagnostic methods together with partners in the Netherlands and the UK. Image: h_da / Samira Schulz.