Resting-State fMRI and Machine Learning as Diagnostic Tools for Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract

: Alzheimer's disease (AD) presents a significant challenge in healthcare, necessitating accurate and timely diagnosis for effective management. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (Rs-fMRI) has emerged as a valuable tool for understanding neural correlates and the early detection of AD. This article reviews recent advancements in utilizing Rs-fMRI in combination with machine learning (ML) techniques for early AD diagnosis. First, we discuss the underlying principles of Rs-fMRI, highlighting its ability to detect alterations in brain functional connectivity (FC) patterns associated with AD. We then explore the potential of ML algorithms, particularly support vector machines (SVMs), in analyzing Rs-fMRI data and discriminating between AD patients and healthy controls. We indicate the challenges and opportunities in integrating Rs-fMRI and ML, such as in data preprocessing, feature selection, and model interpretation. We also address the importance of large-scale, multi-site studies to validate the robustness and generalizability of the proposed approaches. Overall, the integration of Rs-fMRI and ML holds great promise as a non-invasive, objective, and sensitive diagnostic tool for AD, potentially enabling early detection and personalized treatment strategies. However, further studies are warranted to optimize methodologies, enhance interpretability, and facilitate clinical translation.