NeurEYE Research Team Leads AI Innovation in Detecting Dementia via Retinal Imaging
The NeurEYE research program, led by the University of Edinburgh in collaboration with Glasgow Caledonian University, is harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to detect dementia through retinal imaging. This groundbreaking initiative leverages anonymized eye scans from millions of patients across Scotland, collected with permission from the Public Benefit and Privacy Panel for Health and Social Care, part of NHS Scotland.
Transforming Dementia Detection Through Retinal Imaging
Using the vast dataset of eye scans, the NeurEYE team will apply AI and machine learning tools to identify bioindicators of dementia and other neurological diseases. The program aims to:
• Register new biomarkers for Alzheimer’s and other degenerative brain diseases.
• Accelerate drug development by identifying suitable candidates for clinical trials.
• Enhance treatment monitoring with precise and predictive analytics.
Development of AI Tools for Predictive Diagnostics
A key component of the initiative is the creation of an AI-powered software for optometrists to use as a diagnostic or predictive tool. This tool is expected to:
• Serve as a triage system to refer patients to secondary healthcare services.
• Enable optometrists to monitor cognitive decline following a dementia diagnosis.
A Global Collaboration
The NeurEYE project is the second initiative funded by NEURii, a global partnership including the University of Edinburgh, Health Data Research UK, Eisai, Gates Ventures, and LifeArc. The first NEURii project, SCAN-DAN, launched in 2024, focuses on using AI and brain imaging to predict dementia risk.
Insights from Project Leads
According to Baljean Dhillon, Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at the University of Edinburgh, the vascular systems of the retina and the neural pathways of the brain are intimately related. “Unlike the brain, we can see the retina with simple, inexpensive equipment available on every high street in the UK,” he added.
“Recent advances in artificial Intelligence promise to revolutionize medical image interpretation and disease prediction. However, in order to develop algorithms that are equitable and unbiased, we need to train them on datasets that are representative of the whole population at risk,” said Miguel Bernabeu, Professor of Computational Medicine at the Usher Institute.
Optometrists’ Role in Eye and Brain Health
Optometrists play a vital role in the success of this initiative. Ian Cameron, optometrist at Cameron Optometry in Edinburgh, emphasized:
“Optometrists as primary carers is not a new thing, and in Scotland, we’re becoming an increasingly allied part of the NHS. We see the same people year on year, whether they’re ill or not, we have all the right equipment, so it makes sense for us to be the GP of the eyes and monitor as much health as we can see.”
Real-World Impacts
The program’s potential for earlier diagnosis was highlighted by retired engineer David Steele, who shared his personal experience:
“It took 10 years for my mum to be diagnosed with Alzheimer. She was initially diagnosed with dry macular degeneration, but this masked the underlying issue that we now know to be cerebral blindness linked to Alzheimer. The missing diagnosis meant that my late father, who was also elderly, cared for mum throughout a difficult period without knowing what was wrong. If we had known, then we would have had help with the additional and demanding support that became necessary.”
Cost Savings and Data Security
The adoption of AI-driven dementia detection tools could save the NHS over £37 million annually. All patient data will be securely stored in the Scottish National Safe Haven, a platform commissioned by Public Health Scotland and managed by the Edinburgh International Data Facility.
Conclusion
The NeurEYE project exemplifies the transformative potential of AI and retinal imaging in detecting dementia. By combining cutting-edge technology with Scotland’s robust healthcare infrastructure, the program aims to revolutionize how neurological diseases are diagnosed, monitored, and treated.
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