By Dr Leslie O’Looney
Mayo Clinic researchers in the US have developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool that helps clinicians identify brain activity patterns linked to nine types of dementia, including Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease, using a single, widely available scan 鈥 a transformative advance in early, accurate diagnosis.
The tool 鈥 StateViewer 鈥 helped researchers identify the dementia type in 88 per cent of cases, according to research published last week in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. It also enabled clinicians to interpret brain scans nearly twice as fast, and with up to three times greater accuracy than standard workflows.
This innovation addresses a core challenge in dementia care: identifying the disease early and precisely, even when multiple conditions are present. As new treatments emerge, timely diagnosis helps match patients with the most appropriate care when it can have the greatest impact. The tool could bring advanced diagnostic support to clinics that lack neurology expertise.
Dementia affects more than 55 million people worldwide, with nearly 10 million new cases each year. Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, the most common form, is now the fifth-leading cause of death globally. Diagnosing dementia typically requires cognitive tests, blood draws, imaging, clinical interviews and specialist referrals. Even with extensive testing, distinguishing conditions such as Alzheimer鈥檚, Lewy Body Demetia and frontotemporal dementia remains challenging, even for highly experienced specialists.
The tool analyzes a fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scan, which shows how the brain uses glucose for energy. It then compares the scan to a large database of scans from people with confirmed dementia diagnoses and identifies patterns that match specific types, or combinations, of dementia.
Alzheimer鈥檚 typically affects memory and processing regions, Lewy body dementia involves areas tied to attention and movement, and frontotemporal dementia alters regions responsible for language and behaviour. StateViewer displays these patterns through color-coded brain maps that highlight key areas of brain activity, giving all clinicians, even those without neurology training, a visual explanation of what the AI sees and how it supports the diagnosis.
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Was talking to an American conservative person recently about Pride 鈥 Pride in Hungary which was almost banned (but ended up being the biggest ever), Pride in Ballymena where the acrid smell of Unionism and prejudice is over smeared over the roads the night before, and in America, where there is an attempt to 鈥榮hame鈥 participants in the Pride festival.
鈥淲hy can鈥檛 they have these displays in September when all the children are back in school?鈥 he said to me.
鈥淭he reason is right there in the Bible,鈥 I replied. 鈥淚t has to happen in the Summer. Pride comes before a Fall鈥
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The North Kerry heritage town of Listowel have partnered with the HSE to become one of Ireland鈥檚 first Dementia-Inclusive towns. For people living with dementia in the area and for their families, this means that they can feel reassured that when visiting the supermarket, going to lunch or to the bank, they will receive support, kindness and understanding from staff and the wider community.
Together with staff of the HSE South West in Tralee, 27 local services, businesses and organisations have worked collaboratively over the last three years to help increase awareness and improve support for those living with dementia and their families, which will allow them to feel welcome and connected to community life.
There are more than 64,000 people living with dementia in Ireland and this number is expected to more than double to over 150,000 by 2045. Social connection is one of 14 modifiable risk factors for dementia. Reducing social isolation by encouraging participation in activities and living with others can make a big difference. The HSE鈥檚 national Dementia: Understand Together campaign works with people all over Ireland to build dementia-inclusive communities. These communities, such as Listowel, aim to help people living with dementia and their families to be understood, respected and valued. It helps them to stay socially connected and engaged in community life, and to access businesses, services and amenities that understand their needs.
The Dementia Inclusive Listowel project was launched in late 2022. The members meet regularly, provide information, advice, resources, and connect businesses and services together. They have hosted dementia awareness-training workshops for more than a hundred people and organisations based in and around the town. Since launching, more than 250 people have attended public information evenings on dementia and brain health. This is a long-term project, with a commitment from the community to keep the conversation, education and understanding going.
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A weasel walks into a bar. The barman says: 鈥淲ow, I鈥檝e never served a weasel before. What can I get you?鈥
鈥淧op鈥 goes the weasel.
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The Lord Mayor of Dublin Emma Blain announced yesterday the roll out of Coffee 鈥榥鈥 Chat events in four Dublin City Council Parks in association with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
The launch took place yesterday in Herbert Park, Dublin 4 at the Lolly & Cooks caf茅.
Coffee 鈥榥鈥 Chat is a social programme designed to help people living with dementia to meet with others and have fun. The objective of these events is to alleviate isolation and empower those living with dementia to live their lives to the fullest. It will additionally assist family carers to connect with and support one another.
The programme involves Park caf茅s providing a meeting space for people living with young-onset dementia (under 65) and early-stage dementia, and their carers. They can engage in social activities in the caf茅 and in physical activities or walks within the park setting.
There will be a series of pop-up 鈥楥offee 鈥榥鈥 Chat鈥 Clubs in Parks across the city of Dublin to ensure that people are reached in their own communities. The events also aim to bring dementia services into public spaces, thus lessening the stigma around dementia.
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We are targets of media from all over the globe now as propaganda wars are fought on every imaginable topic and available to view on devices that almost every single person has. Some of it is news, much of it is fake, and all of it is getting better at convincing us that things which aren鈥檛 true are, in fact, true.
Irish people are well-experienced in this, of course. Propaganda is merely where a British person takes a good look at something.