New technologies will improve the diagnosis and treatment of brain diseases

Üsküdar University hosted the 6th International Symposium with the participation of 60 international researchers from 12 different countries. In the BaCI (Basic Clinical and Multimodal Imaging) Conference, the latest developments in the fields of neuroscience, genetics and medicine were discussed for 3 days. In their speeches, Prof. Oliver Pogarell from Munich LMU Clinic and Prof. Mahmood Hassan from Reykjavik University drew attention to the need for new research, techniques and technologies in diagnosis and treatment. Stating that artificial intelligence should be combined with the techniques used, the researchers also underlined that neuroimaging technologies are important in creating personalized treatment plans. The researchers indicated that they predict that EEG (a test that measures electrical movements in the brain) could be used at home in the future.

Prof. Oliver Pogarell pointed out how neuroimaging technologies can contribute to the treatment of patients and expressed their desire to be able to use these techniques to improve patients' diagnoses. Noting that they see new technologies as opportunities for individualized treatment, Prof. Pogarell continued: "At this point, we need to collect data. At the beginning we need to decide strictly which technique should be used. Our ultimate goal is to use easy, accessible and low-cost tools like EEG (electroencephalogram, a test that measures electrical movements in the brain) in basic practice."

Prof. Pogarell stated that new technologies are studies aimed at improving the diagnosis and treatment of brain diseases and said that "We always need new research, new techniques and new technologies. We need to combine new techniques, such as artificial intelligence, with the ones we already apply and use them to improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients."

“We can use EEG even at home in the future”

Prof. Mahmood Hassan from Reykjavik University, who was also among the speakers of the conference, drew attention to how imaging technologies can contribute to the treatment of patients in the future. Prof. Mahmood Hassan said: "EEG is one of the most appropriate tools to advance clinical neuroscience. I think it is a portable, home-at-home device, maybe in the future we will even be able to use EEG at home. This is the only technique that is a direct measurement of brain activity." Prof. Hassan also expressed his opinion on whether the development of neuroimaging technologies will be used to create personalized treatment plans, and said that more advanced tools are needed for this.

Not used for psychiatric disorders so far

Reminding that EEG has been used in the diagnosis of brain diseases since the 1940s, Prof. Hassan continued: "EEG is already used in the clinic. We know that EEG was the first tool used to detect epileptic seizures. Now we need to question, 'Can we use EEG for other pathologies like epilepsy? Again, can it be applied to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's? It has not been used so far for psychiatric disorders Because we do not have enough evidence yet; however, the issue is progressing. Medicine must be precise. Therefore, we need more advanced tools for what we do. We know that 50% of neurologists will not agree at the same time. Machine learning can help in this direction to transform what we get from the average brain into a patient-specific treatment and analysis."

60 international researchers from 12 different countries participated

In the conference held at Üsküdar University NP Health Campus between 03-07 September 2023, 60 international researchers from 12 different countries discussed the latest developments in the fields of neuroscience, genetics and medicine. Within the scope of the program, Prof. Monte Buchsbaum, who is considered the pioneer of neuroimaging technologies, was also presented with an honorary doctorate. All information about the Basic Clinical and Multimodal Imaging (BaCl) Congress can be found on https://baci-conference2023.com/.

 

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)