Can AI Predict How Dementia Will Progress?
When someone receives a dementia diagnosis, the next question is often: what happens now?
It’s one thing to be told you have dementia. It’s another to understand what that really means for your future. Will the symptoms come on quickly? Will you need help in a year, or in five? Will you still be able to live independently?
These are real, emotional, and deeply personal questions. And they’re not always easy to answer — not yet, anyway.
But that might be changing.
Using AI to Understand Dementia
In a recent interview, Dr Timothy Rittman, Senior Research Fellow at Alzheimer’s Research UK, shared insights into how artificial intelligence (AI) could one day predict the course of dementia after someone has been diagnosed.
This goes beyond just what dementia someone might have — it’s about how it will progress.
At the moment, we know that dementia can affect people in very different ways. Some people see a gradual decline over many years. Others find their symptoms progress more quickly. This variation is influenced by a mix of genetics, lifestyle, environment, and more.
Researchers have been studying these patterns for decades — in some cases, over 50 years. But even with long-term studies, it’s hard to predict individual outcomes. That’s where AI might make a difference.
What AI Is Already Doing in Healthcare
AI is already being tested in other areas of medicine. For example, a major breast cancer screening trial is underway in the UK, using AI to read mammograms and spot patterns that doctors might miss.
The same kind of technology could be used in dementia research. By scanning brain images, AI might be able to identify early warning signs — not just of the condition itself, but of how it’s likely to develop.
A Diagnosis and a Prognosis?
Professor Zoe Kourtzi has been leading early trials into how AI could help with dementia, and the results so far are promising.
In some cases, AI has been able to identify whether someone is at risk of developing Alzheimer’s, and how quickly their brain might be changing. That opens the door to something groundbreaking: a tool that could give not just a diagnosis, but a prognosis too.
Imagine being able to plan ahead with a clearer idea of what to expect — how quickly your memory might be affected, or when extra care might be needed. That could make a huge difference in helping families prepare, access the right support, and make the most of the time they have.
We're Still in the Early Stages
It’s important to say that this research is still in development. The AI models are being refined and tested to make sure they’re reliable and accurate. But even at this early stage, it’s an exciting glimpse into the future of dementia care.
Science won’t have all the answers overnight — but AI could help us get there faster, giving families hope and clarity when they need it most.
