AI-Empower Monitoring and Intervention of Neurodegenerative Diseases in Community Settings

IAS NTU Discovery Science Seminar by Dr Zeng Zhiwei - Rapidly aging populations have become a global phenomenon. With an ever-growing number of seniors, the long-term care landscape is evolving rapidly. The Singapore way has been to look to the family and community first to allow people to “age in place” in the familiarity of their own homes. More help facilities, schemes, and programs are also appearing. Among the various types of care services - ranging from personal care and medical care to palliative care - more attention has been paid to both ends of the care spectrum. However, care at the community level, such as the precinct and neighbourhood level, has received much less attention. Another issue with the current care models, especially institutionalized care, is that they follow a one-size-fits-all approach and are neither well differentiated nor personalised.
AI has demonstrated a high potential for use in the healthcare domain to accurately predict illness, maximize disease prevention, and refine treatment plans. As research and technological advancements are made, the application of AI will gradually become more feasible in advancing quality care in home- and community-based settings. In this seminar, Dr Zeng shared the efforts of her team in bringing more accessible and personalised long-term care to the community level. Using their projects on the monitoring and intervention of neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia and Parkinson’s Disease, as examples, she illustrated the potential of AI in leading a paradigm shift in the current protocols and care approach and how an interdisciplinary research approach could nurture research with more real-world impact.