Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming healthcare. Across the world, doctors are discovering ways that AI can positively impact how they assess and treat their patients.
“Neurologists are beginning to use artificial intelligence to evaluate patients in entirely new ways — using algorithms to assist in diagnosing brain disorders and using technology to more accurately and rapidly identify abnormalities on brain images and other tests,” explained Nicole Reams, MD, FAAN, a general and sports neurologist with Endeavor Health Medical Group.
From note-taking during appointments to analyzing EEGs, neurologists are finding ways to use AI to help both them and, most importantly, their patients.
Here are some ways neurologists are using AI to improve patient care:
AI as a doctor’s secretary. Some neurologists are using AI to shorten the time they spend documenting notes in the computer, which gives them more time to spend with their patients.
During appointments, with the patient’s permission, doctors can let AI “listen in” to the conversation and securely take notes. Some doctors will even narrate the patient’s physical examination out loud to make sure AI captures their in-the-moment observations or realizations. Letting AI “eavesdrop” like this can help doctors give their full attention to the patient during the appointment and save time otherwise spent doing paperwork afterward. The patient also gets more focused time with their physician.
“Charting is a necessary aspect of working with patients that can be very time-consuming,” said Dr. Reams. “If AI can take some of the burden of charting off of neurologists, this allows for a more quality and directed experience in the clinic with personal attention and eye contact.”
AI for early detection and diagnosis. Electroencephalogram (EEG) tests are widely available, noninvasive tests to monitor brain activity. Neurologists use EEGs to look for patterns in the brain waves that can help them diagnose conditions like epilepsy, and can assist with the evaluation of memory and sleep disorders. Now, doctors can use AI to quickly and more precisely analyze EEG tests, even to identify a seizure that may have been missed by the human eye.
“Not only can AI identify a seizure on an EEG far more quickly than a human, but it can actually catch very subtle patterns in the brain waves that doctors might not notice,” said Dr. Reams. “Noticing these patterns allows for more precise diagnosis and early identification of subtle abnormalities.
AI and deep brain stimulation (DBS). DBS devices can help reduce symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients with movement disorders like tremor and Parkinson’s disease.
Surgeons place electrodes on certain brain regions, and a device sends electrical signals to stimulate those regions. Researchers have developed algorithms to study how different brain regions interact when stimulated. This could help treat movement disorders that affect multiple parts of the brain by stimulating whole-brain networks.
AI is also being explored to improve DBS by adjusting electrical impulses in real-time, creating adaptive DBS. This technology tailors stimulation patterns to each patient's brain and may have the ability to adapt to progressive conditions that have worsening symptoms over time.
Robotic-assisted surgery. AI-powered robots help perform precise surgeries for neurological conditions like brain tumors or deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's, reducing risk and improving outcomes.
Robots use AI to guide surgeons in placing electrodes in Parkinson’s disease treatment. Robotic-assisted surgery is also used for procedures like spinal surgeries or brain tumor resections, where precision is critical for minimizing damage to surrounding tissue.
AI for remote monitoring. AI-driven devices monitor patients with chronic neurological conditions remotely, tracking symptoms and sending real-time data to neurologists.
Wearables for Parkinson’s disease can track tremors and motor symptoms, allowing doctors to adjust medications without in-person visits. AI-enabled devices are also used to monitor seizure activity in epilepsy patients and to track cognitive function in patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
AI to support, not replace, neurological expertise
AI is transforming the way we approach complex neurological conditions, helping with tasks like data analysis, early diagnosis, and predictive modeling. But no matter how sophisticated these tools become, human expertise is irreplaceable.
While AI tools can help process large amounts of data, detect patterns, and provide evidence-based recommendations, it’s the neurologist’s expertise that ensures these insights are applied with empathy and human judgment.
“AI will continue to have a growing impact on the field of neurology, but it has limitations in healthcare,” said Dr. Reams.
“While there is reason to be excited about the use of AI technology, the use of AI alone in healthcare carries risk for errors and should only be done with human expert oversight. The deployment of any tool requires careful consideration of bias, monitoring for updates in a changing healthcare world of research knowledge, and careful human interpretation in a clinical context.”
Related Articles
