Researchers in Australia develop AI tool to assess stroke risk

SYDNEY, Oct 18: Researchers in Australia have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model that analyzes DNA to identify genetic risk factors for stroke, paving the way for more personalized risk assessments and prevention.

The study identified 18 genetic variants linked to ischemic stroke, the most common type of stroke. People in the highest genetic risk group had a 22 percent higher chance of stroke than those in the lower-risk group, according to a statement released recently by Australia's University of Technology Sydney (UTS).

The team used a type of AI known as a transformer to train the model on thousands of genetic variations and identify links to ischemic stroke. Researchers tested the AI model using genetic and health data from the UK Biobank and a large U.S. database. The model was more accurate than previous genetic risk tools at distinguishing people who had suffered a stroke from those who had not.

The study also identified the gene EDEM2 in brain cortex tissue as a key contributor to stroke susceptibility, providing a target for further research.

Researchers are now developing a multimodal AI tool that combines genetic assessments with other modes of data, including health and lifestyle surveys, scans and imaging, to improve risk assessment for stroke and other diseases.