The World Health Organization (WHO) reports Parkinson’s disease (帕金森病) is currently the fastest growing neurological condition worldwide. It harms the brain and often causes patients to lose the ability to control their movements. Researchers note that what is challenging to cure such patients is that early signs of Parkinson’s disease are not easy to identify. Many signs only appear years after the disease sets in. Researchers have investigated existing methods for detecting the disease before it has a chance to develop. These included examinations of brain images. But these methods are costly and require specialized medical centers.
Dina Katabi is a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at MIT. She helped lead the research. She said the act of breathing has always been connected to Parkinson’s disease. This connection led the research team to consider the potential of detecting the disease from one’s breathing without looking at movements. Previous studies have shown that breathing patterns linked to Parkinson’s disease can appear years before other signs.
Based on the above, American researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) method to identify Parkinson’s disease. This means the AI system can be an early predictor of the disease. The system works by measuring a person’s breathing patterns during sleep. It can also measure the severity of disease and record its progression. The collected data is then processed through what the researchers call a neural (神经的) network, which is a computer system built to act like the human brain.
Experiments showed that with just one night of sleep, the AI system was able to detect Parkinson’s disease with up to 86 percent accuracy. With 12 nights of data, the rate went up to 95 percent.
The researchers say the simplicity of the tool will enable many more people to be tested for the disease in their homes. They said this can especially help people in traditionally underserved communities, as well as individuals living in rural areas or with limited abilities to visit hospitals.
【小题1】What is a barrier to treat Parkinson’s disease?| A．The patients can’t move. |
| B．It’s hard to discover its early signs. |
| C．Brain images are difficult to examine. |
| D．No testing equipment has been invented. |
| A．By detecting more nights of sleep. |
| B．By calculating the data more carefully. |
| C．By examining more aspects of the patient. |
| D．By measuring sleeping patterns the whole day. |
| A．It can reach more patients. |
| B．It’s more expensive. |
| C．It only measures patients breathing. |
| D．It requires specialists with better skills. |
| A．Significance of advanced technology. |
| B．The new cure for Parkinson’s disease. |
| C．Identification of Parkinson’s disease by AI. |
| D．An effective method to improve breathing. |
