Artificial intelligence in multiple sclerosis management: Challenges in a new era

Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2024 Apr 8:86:105611. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2024.105611. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for healthcare professionals, with a high risk of misdiagnosis and difficulties in assessing therapeutic effectiveness. Artificial intelligence, particularly machine learning and deep neural networks, emerges as a promising tool to address these challenges. These technologies have the capability to analyze a wide range of data, from magnetic resonance imaging to genetic information, to provide more accurate diagnoses, classify multiple sclerosis subtypes, and predict disease progression and treatment response with extraordinary precision. However, their implementation raises ethical dilemmas, such as accountability in case of errors and the risk of excessive reliance on healthcare personnel. That said, this manuscript aims to urge healthcare professionals dedicated to the care and research of multiple sclerosis patients to recognize artificial intelligence as a valuable and complementary resource in their clinical practice. It also seeks to emphasize the importance of integrating this type of technology safely and responsibly, thereby ensuring the ethics and welfare of patients.

Keywords: Artificial intelligence; Autoimmune diseases; Deep learning; Machine learning; Multiple sclerosis.

Publication types

  • Letter