AI-driven brain modelling for personalised cognitive enhancement

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Cognitive decline is a core feature of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) which combined affect over 1.3 million people costing the UK over £35 billion. There are cognitive-enhancing drugs licensed to alleviate cognitive decline in dementia and MCI. However, they provide only a modest gain to around half the people who take them, and we do not understand how to make these drugs more efficient. Artificial intelligence (AI) neural networks have shown remarkable ability to stratify patients and predict susceptibility to brain disorders, such as dementia. However, the solutions of these algorithms are often hard to interpret and inform new research and treatments. To address this, we have recently started mapping AI neural networks onto biological neural networks. In contrast to standard approaches, our AI-driven brain modelling approach enables us to map precise neuronal mechanisms onto cognitive processes in health and disease. Our models predict that specific neuromodulators enable the development of memories in biological neural networks with heightened resilience to perturbations. In this project we will use our AI-driven modelling to study how neuromodulator malfunction exacerbates the decline in cognitive function that results from neuronal death. Consequently, our model will generate specific cognitive training treatments that are optimal for reducing cognitive decline during dementia and MCI. Next, we will simulate commonly used cognitive-enhancing drugs to study why current drugs only offer modest improvements and how to best combine them with cognitive training. To perform this work, we will bring together a team of leaders in computational, fundamental, and clinical neuroscience with AI experts.Overall, this project will develop the first AI-driven brain modelling tool capable of facilitating cognitive enhancement research. This line of AI-informed research will lead to personalised treatments that will improve quality of life in dementia and MCI.