In a world where AI is rapidly transforming numerous industries, one company is pioneering a new frontier in brain health. Neuroelectrics, co-founded by Ana Maiques, is at the cutting edge of AI-driven neuroscience, aiming to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders such as epilepsy, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease. In a compelling presentation at the AI for Good Global Summit 2024 conference, Maiques detailed how Neuroelectrics is harnessing AI to create “NeuroTwins”—digital replicas of patients’ brains that promise to transform the future of neurological care.
Maiques explained to this of NeuroTwins as flight simulator for the brain explained where, just like pilot’s train with flight simulators, we can use NeuroTwins to explore and understand how a patient’s brain functions. This innovative approach is grounded in computational neuroscience, which combines complex algorithms, data from brain imaging technologies, and personalized brain models to simulate the unique neurological patterns of each patient.
At the core of Neuroelectrics’ technology is a sophisticated brain cap equipped with wireless sensors, known as “C.” The cap is designed to either record brain activity or stimulate specific areas of the brain based on the patient’s needs.
Credit: NE Neuroelectrics
“When your brain suffers from depression, the right hemisphere has less activity than the left hemisphere; this is called frontal hemispheric asymmetry,” Maiques explained, using the example of a sad song to illustrate how neural imbalances manifest in the brain. “The sensors help us understand how your brain is communicating, which is [crucial] because the brain is probably the most complex, the most sophisticated part of our body, and we still don’t know how it works.”
Neuroelectrics aims to bridge this gap in knowledge through AI, creating a personalized model of each patient’s brain. The process begins by collecting brain data, such as MRI scans and EEG readings, to build a biophysical model that reflects the unique structure and electrical activity of the individual’s brain.
Every human being’s brain is different Maiques emphasized, “your scalp, your conductivity, your physical brain, it’s all different […] and that’s what we model in our NeuroTwin.”
Transforming Epilepsy Treatment with AI
One of the most promising applications of Neuroelectrics’ technology is in the treatment of epilepsy, a condition affecting millions of people worldwide. Epilepsy is characterized by unpredictable seizures that are often resistant to traditional drug treatments.
“One-third of patients with epilepsy don’t respond to medication,” Maiques stated. “The alternative is surgery, which often involves removing the part of the brain causing the seizures or implanting devices to control them. Today, in the United States, 97% of these patients don’t have a solution.”
This is where Neuroelectrics’ AI-driven NeuroTwins come in. By modeling the brain’s networks, NeuroTwins can identify the origin of seizures and predict how they will propagate through the brain.
“Think of your brain as an underground metro station,” she illustrated.
She explained that if your brain lesion is located in the center of the city, it will spread differently compared to if it’s located at the airport. AI and NeuroTwins can help us model which networks are affected depending on where the seizures originate.
Credit: NE Neuroelectrics
Once the seizure’s origin and affected networks are identified, the team uses the NeuroTwin model to design personalized electrical stimulation therapies. Maiques explained that they can simulate different scenarios on the computer to find the optimal stimulation points, electrode placements, and electrical currents needed to reduce seizures.
The results from their first clinical trials with the FDA are promising, showing a nearly 50% reduction in seizures for patients treated with the NeuroTwin approach. In just 10 days, with 20 minutes of daily non-invasive stimulation, Maiques says they managed to reduce seizures by 44%.
Pioneering Mental Health Treatment
Neuroelectrics is not stopping at epilepsy. The company is also making significant strides in treating depression, a global mental health crisis affecting millions of individuals.
“Depression […] is a huge pandemic,” Maiques said. “I think there are not enough good drugs or treatments [available]. Electricity in the brain has been used in mental health for ages—from the [controversial] electroshock [therapy to more modern methods] like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).”
The company’s technology offers a new, more accessible approach. In their initial FDA trial involving 35 patients suffering from depression, Neuroelectrics achieved a 63.6% reduction in symptoms, with an 89% compliance rate. Patients were able to take the brain cap home, performing daily 20-minute self-administered stimulations over a month.
“The results are spectacular,” she exclaimed, they stimulate the dorsolateral prefrontal area of the brain, and the patients see real improvements.
Unlike TMS, which requires patients to visit a clinic and costs around $100,000 per machine, or implanted devices that involve surgical risks, Neuroelectrics’ technology is portable and can be used at home. Their approach is non-invasive and allows for repeated, low-intensity stimulation, which is crucial for encouraging neural plasticity.
Maiques noted that “there’s a concept in the brain that says neurons that fire together, wire together.” So the more you stimulate the brain, even at low currents, the more you encourage it to reorganize itself healthily, she explained.
Expanding the Horizon: Beyond Epilepsy and Depression
Maiques and her team are not content with just focusing on epilepsy and depression. They have begun exploring applications of their technology for other neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
“We are currently running a small trial as our third indication,” Maiques shared. “Studies in Alzheimer’s are complicated because you have to do all the imagin […] but the potential is great […] especially in the early stages of the disease.”
While the potential of Neuroelectrics’ technology is vast, Maiques acknowledges the challenges ahead, especially around funding and regulatory approval. “We are now in a pivotal phase three clinical trial in more than 40 hospitals with 150 patients,” she said, highlighting their ambition to become the first company in the world to receive FDA approval for a novel AI-based approach to epilepsy treatment.
As Neuroelectrics continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in neuroscience, Ana Maiques and her team are proving that AI can be harnessed for profound good, creating new opportunities for patients and setting the stage for a future where brain health is more personalized, accessible, and effective than ever before.
Watch the full session here:
