Validation study reveals that mri_reface removes facial features without altering brain measurements in ADNI4, indicating robust privacy protection for open-access neuroimaging.
INTRODUCTION: Recent technological advances have increased the risk that de-identified brain images could be re-identified from face imagery. The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) is a leading source of publicly available de-identified brain imaging, who quickly acted to protect participants' privacy. METHODS: An independent expert committee evaluated 11 face-deidentification ("de-facing") methods and selected four for formal testing. RESULTS: Effects of de-facing on brain measurements were comparable across methods and sufficiently small to recommend de-facing in ADNI. The committee ultimately recommended mri_reface for advantages in reliability, and for some practical considerations. ADNI leadership approved the committee's recommendation, beginning in ADNI4. DISCUSSION: ADNI4 de-faces all applicable brain images before subsequent pre-processing, analyses, and public release. Trained analysts inspect de-faced images to confirm complete face removal and complete non-modification of brain. This paper details the history of the algorithm selection process and extensive validation, then describes the production workflows for de-facing in ADNI. HIGHLIGHTS: ADNI is implementing "de-facing" of MRI and PET beginning in ADNI4. "De-facing" alters face imagery in brain images to help protect privacy. Four algorithms were extensively compared for ADNI and mri_reface was chosen. Validation confirms mri_reface is robust and effective for ADNI sequences. Validation confirms mri_reface negligibly affects ADNI brain measurements.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Schwarz et al. (2024) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: