Daijiworld Media Network - London

London, Sep 26: Artificial intelligence is helping scientists accelerate the search for treatments for neurological conditions by identifying existing medicines that could potentially be repurposed for brain disorders, including dementia.

Researchers at the UK Dementia Research Institute in Edinburgh are using AI to analyse thousands of existing drugs and identify medicines that may have potential in treating dementia and other neurological conditions.

The technology allows scientists to examine large amounts of data and screen existing medicines much faster than conventional approaches, helping researchers identify promising candidates that might otherwise take years to investigate.

Researchers say the approach could speed up the early stages of drug discovery by focusing attention on medicines that are already known and have previously undergone testing for other conditions.

The work is part of growing efforts to use artificial intelligence in medical research, particularly in areas where developing new treatments can be lengthy and costly.

By analysing existing drugs and their potential effects on neurological diseases, scientists hope AI can help uncover new treatment possibilities and shorten the time needed to identify promising therapies.

However, medicines identified through AI analysis would still need to undergo appropriate laboratory and clinical testing before they could be considered safe and effective treatments for patients.