Machine learning approaches to predicting amyloid status using data from an online research and recruitment registry: The Brain Health Registry

Abstract
Introduction This study investigated the extent to which subjective and objective data from an online registry can be analyzed using machine learning methodologies to predict the current brain amyloid beta (A beta) status of registry participants. Methods We developed and optimized machine learning models using data from up to 664 registry participants. Models were assessed on their ability to predict A beta positivity using the results of positron emission tomography as ground truth. Results Study partner-assessed Everyday Cognition score was preferentially selected for inclusion in the models by a feature selection algorithm during optimization. Discussion Our results suggest that inclusion of study partner assessments would increase the ability of machine learning models to predict A beta positivity.
Funding Information
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Aging (K01AG055692)
  • Alzheimer's Association
  • California Department of Public Health
  • Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation
  • Larry L. Hillblom Foundation
  • General Electric