Artificial Intelligence Identifies Brain Network Predictive of Psychosis in Alzheimer's Disease

MANHASSET, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Researchers at Northwell Health's Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research have developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-based tool that identifies a brain metabolic network capable of predicting psychosis in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This discovery, published this week in Brain Communications, offers a potential breakthrough for earlier diagnosis, treatment development and personalized medicine for individuals with AD.
The study, led by Jeremy L. Koppel, MD, associate professor at the Feinstein Institutes' Institute of Molecular Medicine, and associate professor An Vo, PhD, used an AI-derived metabolic brain map that looks at FDG-PET scans of people with AD, including some who experienced psychosis (hallucinations and delusions) and some who did not. The AI identified a unique pattern of brain activity, like a fingerprint, in the brains of those with psychosis. They called this pattern the ADPN (Alzheimer's Disease Psychosis Network).
'This discovery of the ADPN provides a critical tool for advancing our understanding and management of psychosis in Alzheimer's disease,' said Dr. Koppel. 'This biomarker can potentially identify individuals at risk of developing psychosis, allowing for earlier and more targeted interventions.'
Psychosis, characterized by delusions and hallucinations, affects a significant portion of individuals with AD and is associated with accelerated cognitive decline, increased caregiver burden and premature mortality. Current treatments are limited and often carry significant risks. The ADPN, however, was helpful in distinguishing the difference in brain patterns between people with AD and psychosis, especially between the areas responsible for movement and the areas responsible for language and social understanding. It was also able to predict who would develop psychosis in the future. The stronger the ADPN 'fingerprint,' the worse the person's cognitive decline.
'The discovery of the ADPN exemplifies the power of AI and interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing our understanding of complex neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease,' said Kevin J. Tracey MD, president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes and Karches Family Distinguished Chair in Medical Research. 'This innovative approach, integrating neuroimaging with cutting-edge computational tools, offers a new path towards earlier diagnosis, personalized treatment strategies, and ultimately, improved outcomes for individuals affected by this devastating disease.'
Dr. Koppel is an internationally recognized clinical scientist who continues to identify AD's potential causes and treatments. He recently received a National Institutes of Health grant for nearly $500,000 to look at ptau181 and other biomarkers in psychosis before AD begins as well as a $1 million grant from the Alzheimer's Foundation of America to expand research into developing new treatments to address the hallucinations, delusions and aggression that come with dementia.
Last year, he and his lab published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Psychiatry papers that showed an increase in specific tau proteins that indicated blood biomarkers could be used to detect psychotic symptoms in AD patients.
About the Feinstein Institutes
The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research is the home of the research institutes of Northwell Health, the largest health care provider and private employer in New York State. Encompassing 50+ research labs, 3,000 clinical research studies and 5,000 researchers and staff, the Feinstein Institutes raises the standard of medical innovation through its six institutes of behavioral science, bioelectronic medicine, cancer, health system science, molecular medicine, and translational research. We are the global scientific leader in bioelectronic medicine – an innovative field of science that has the potential to revolutionize medicine. The Feinstein Institutes publishes two open-access, international peer-reviewed journals Molecular Medicine and Bioelectronic Medicine. Through the Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine, we offer an accelerated PhD program. For more information about how we produce knowledge to cure disease, visit http://feinstein.northwell.edu and follow us on LinkedIn.

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Exelixis Announces Zanzalintinib in Combination with an Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Improved Overall Survival in STELLAR-303 Phase 3 Pivotal Trial in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

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Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana from June 21-24. About GE HealthCare Technologies Inc. GE HealthCare is a trusted partner and leading global healthcare solutions provider, innovating medical technology, pharmaceutical diagnostics, and integrated, cloud-first AI-enabled solutions, services and data analytics. We aim to make hospitals and health systems more efficient, clinicians more effective, therapies more precise, and patients healthier and happier. Serving patients and providers for more than 125 years, GE HealthCare is advancing personalized, connected and compassionate care, while simplifying the patient's journey across care pathways. Together, our Imaging, Advanced Visualization Solutions, Patient Care Solutions and Pharmaceutical Diagnostics businesses help improve patient care from screening and diagnosis to therapy and monitoring. We are a $19.7 billion business with approximately 53,000 colleagues working to create a world where healthcare has no limits. GE HealthCare is proud to be among 2025 Fortune World's Most Admired Companies™. Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram, and Insights for the latest news, or visit our website for more information. i LesionID Pro with automated zero-click pre-processing is 510(k)-pending with the U.S. FDA. Not CE Marked and not licensed in accordance with Canadian law. Not available for sale in the United States, Europe, Canada, or any other region. ii Cancer. World Health Organization. Published February 3, 2022. Accessed March 2, 2023. iii Technology in development that represents ongoing research and development efforts. These technologies are not products and may never become products. Not CE marked. iv Omni Legend 21cm as compared to Discovery MI Gen1 20cm. As demonstrated in phantom testing. v Based on orders data of GE HealthCare PET/CT systems since 2010. vi Compared to NM/CT 870 DR. vii As compared to NM/CT 870 DR with Optima 540 CT. viii a ASiR-V reduces dose by 50% to 82% relative to FBP at the same image quality (Image quality as defined by low contrast detectability). viii b In clinical practice, the use of ASiR‐V may reduce CT patient dose depending on the clinical task, patient size, anatomical location, and clinical practice. A consultation with a radiologist and a physicist should be made to determine the appropriate dose to obtain diagnostic image quality for the particular clinical task. Low Contrast Detectability (LCD), Image Noise, Spatial Resolution and Artifact were assessed using reference factory protocols comparing ASiR‐V and FBP. The LCD was measured using 0.625 mm slices and tested for both head and body modes using the MITA CT IQ Phantom (CCT183, The Phantom Laboratory), using a model observer method.

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In 1993, the first commercial creatine hit store shelves, and sales boomed. Creatine is a raw material for producing ATP, a molecule that gives our cells energy. The majority of creatine is stored in the muscles, where it offers a ready fuel source for high-intensity effort. More creatine can improve strength and muscle gains by providing a bit more energy, helping you push a little bit harder and work out for longer before getting tired. Our bodies naturally produce creatine through a combination of amino acids. That's only a small amount, though. We can get more of it from some foods like red meat and fish — or, through supplements. In the past five years, demand for creatine as a fitness aid has spiked, with retail prices up 150% and sales increased by 90% year over year, despite steadily rising costs. And it's not just for muscle-hungry gym bros. 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"We think that just providing more energy to the brain could be useful," Scott Forbes, a sports science researcher and professor at Brandon University who was not involved in the study, told Business Insider. "The brain actually uses about 20% of your total energy expenditure, even though it only weighs about 2% of your body weight. So for a tissue, it's very energetically demanding," Forbes said. Creatine also seems to have an anti-inflammatory effect, making the brain more resilient against stresses that would wear down its ability to perform. "We know that too much inflammation or too much oxidative stress can also lead to poor cognition or poor brain functions," Forbes said. Other recent studies have found that supplementing creatine could also help to mitigate the effects of aging or a concussion. "The theory is that the brain can remodel itself or at least maintain its function during times of stress," Candow, the aging researcher at Regina University, told Business Insider. "I don't know anybody in the world that's not stressed." The new research is expanding creatine's reach to consumers beyond the gym, according to Muriel Gonzalez, president of nationwide supplement retailer The Vitamin Shoppe. "Creatine is undergoing a major transformation — from a niche sports nutrition supplement to a versatile tool for daily health and longevity," Gonzalez told Business Insider over email. Total creatine sales have spiked by 300% from 2019 to 2024 at The Vitamin Shoppe, and are continuing to grow at a double-digit pace, according to company data. Should you be taking creatine? You'll be disappointed if you expect to transform your life, and health, with a few doses of creatine. A supplement can provide a boost but ultimately makes a relatively small difference. Your overall diet, exercise, and lifestyle are far more important. Still, the bottom line is that more and more research supports taking creatine for a huge range of benefits, with very little downside. "I think almost everybody should consider taking creatine," Forbes, the science researcher at Brandon University, said. Even in high doses over a long time period, side effects are mild, such as gastrointestinal upset and a slight increase in water retention, since creatine pulls water into the muscles. "Overall it's one of the safest supplements out there," Eric Gonzalez, a neuroscience professor at Texas Christian University who has studied creatine, told Business Insider. "If anyone wants to go on a supplement, creatine won't hurt you, there's only going to be an upside." If you're losing weight — including those on a GLP-1 drug that triggers weight loss — creatine can help you retain muscle mass, promoting a higher ratio of muscle to body fat. For those looking to boost brain health or mood, early studies suggest that 10-30 grams a day may be beneficial. Glen previously conducted research on senior Olympians who took creatine and found it helped them get stronger and faster while avoiding age-related decline. "We're never too old to take creatine," he said.