Speech Study Using AI Technology to Spot ALS Biomarkers

A technology based on artificial intelligence is helping to spot biomarkers and document the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a large speech study being conducted by EverythingALS. The technology, developed by Modality.ai, is a web-based computer program that uses audio (speech) and video (facial) recordings to assess neurological states automatically through AI and machine learning algorithms. Its greatest advantage is that data can be collected remotely at home on any computer device with the help of a virtual assistant called "Tina." This is important for people with ALS, who often have limited mobility due to muscle weakness, which may affect their ability to participate in clinical studies. "Our mission is to discover and deploy initiatives that focus on new ways to diagnose and treat neurological disorders at the intersection of computing and brain science with a focus on ALS," Indu Navar, CEO and co-founder of EverythingALS, a U.S. nonprofit that is part of the Peter Cohen Foundation, said in a press release.