Multiple Inputs and Mixwd data for Alzheimer's Disease Classification Based on 3D Vision Transformer
This work addresses the need for more accurate Alzheimer's diagnosis for patients and clinicians by integrating multiple data sources, though it appears incremental as it builds on existing transformer-based approaches.
The study tackled the problem of diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease using MRI by addressing limitations in existing methods, such as loss of 3D context and reliance on single data sources, and introduced the MIMD-3DVT method, which achieved an accuracy of 97.14% in classification.
The current methods for diagnosing Alzheimer Disease using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) have significant limitations. Many previous studies used 2D Transformers to analyze individual brain slices independently, potentially losing critical 3D contextual information. Region of interest-based models often focus on only a few brain regions despite Alzheimer's affecting multiple areas. Additionally, most classification models rely on a single test, whereas diagnosing Alzheimer's requires a multifaceted approach integrating diverse data sources for a more accurate assessment. This study introduces a novel methodology called the Multiple Inputs and Mixed Data 3D Vision Transformer (MIMD-3DVT). This method processes consecutive slices together to capture the feature dimensions and spatial information, fuses multiple 3D ROI imaging data inputs, and integrates mixed data from demographic factors, cognitive assessments, and brain imaging. The proposed methodology was experimentally evaluated using a combined dataset that included the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), the Australian Imaging, Biomarker, and Lifestyle Flagship Study of Ageing (AIBL), and the Open Access Series of Imaging Studies (OASIS). Our MIMD-3DVT, utilizing single or multiple ROIs, achieved an accuracy of 97.14%, outperforming the state-of-the-art methods in distinguishing between Normal Cognition and Alzheimer's Disease.