Selection of subjects for clinical trials in Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment with machine learning analysis of MRI and CSF biomarkers

Objectives There is a need for techniques to conduct Clinical Trials (CTs) in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) more efficiently to reduce their duration and cost. However, large variability in the rating scales increases the number of subjects required to obtain significant results in the CTs 1,2. Alternatively, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) are promising AD biomarkers but none is optimal for all disease stages 1,2. Additionally, Machine Learning can detect biomarker patterns to characterize AD and MCI. In this study, we assessed the usefulness of Machine Learning to select subjects with the clearest signs of the disease for inclusion in more efficient CTs 3,4.