From decades to years - AI could speed search for brain drugs hiding in plain sight
Researchers at the UK Dementia Research Institute are utilizing AI to expedite the search for treatments for neurological conditions. By analyzing patient data and lab-grown brain cells, they aim to repurpose existing drugs for conditions like motor neurone disease. This innovative approach could potentially reduce the time required to find effective treatments from decades to just a few years.
- ▪The UK Dementia Research Institute is using AI to analyze patient data and identify existing drugs that could treat neurological conditions.
- ▪Trial participant Steven Barrett, diagnosed with motor neurone disease, expresses hope that the research could lead to effective treatments for himself and others.
- ▪The Institute is building a comprehensive database of patients with various neurological conditions to enhance their research efforts.
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| Original publisher | BBC News — Health |
| Canonical URL | https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdrp3zzzp71o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss |
| Publication time | Fri, 22 May 2026 21:30:06 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-22T21:32:03.027Z |
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From decades to years - AI could speed search for brain drugs hiding in plain sightJust nowShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleZoe Kleinman,technology editorandPhilippa WainBBCSteven Barrett OBE is taking part in research with the UK Dementia Institute to try and improve outcomes for those living with MND and other brain diseasesScientists are using AI to accelerate the search for treatments for neurological conditions that may be hiding in plain sight.Researchers at the UK Dementia Research Institute in Edinburgh analyse patient data including voice recordings and eye scans, as well as lab-grown brain cells, to identify whether existing drugs could be repurposed to treat conditions such as motor neurone disease (MND).The scientists hope that by using algorithms to detect patterns of…
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