Digital Health Technologies and Big Data Analytics in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative Diseases and Brain Disorders

Neurodegeneration includes a series of diseases that affect the neurons of the brain. Neurons are structural units of the nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord which do not reproduce or renew themselves, so if they are damaged or die, they cannot be replaced by the body. Typical examples of neurodegenerative diseases are Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease [9]. Neurodegenerative diseases are incurable conditions that cause disability and lead to the progressive degeneration and/or death of nerve cells. This development causes problems with movement (ataxia) or mental function (dementia). Globally, the percentage of the population affected by neurodegenerative diseases is constantly increasing which may be due to its increase life expectancy and population growth as these are diseases that they mainly affect elderly people [10].

In addition to the normal functioning of the nervous system, neuroscience also examines neurological, psychiatric or neurodevelopmental-neurodegenerative brain disorders. It is customary, however, to practically have a separation between neuroscience and neurobiology - mainly on a practical and not always on a scientific level - aiming each field at the well- and poorly written counterparts of the functional and structural elements referred to in the Central Nervous System [11, 12]. By extension, neuroscience focuses on clarifying and positively enhancing the functions and structures of neuronal systems, while neurobiology, on the other hand, mainly deals with the biological nature of these systems. Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by progressive decline of the brain function, therefore, with a significant reduction in the patients’ quality of life and their family. Among the main mechanisms related to neurodegeneration protein aggregation and degradation, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are included. Moreover, these diseases have a physical, mental and social impact, and this impact extends beyond the obvious features of the symptoms of the disease [13].

Perspectives on Digital Technology in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Genetic and environmental factors play an important role in appearance of neurodegenerative diseases while various studies have confirmed that the environmental toxins are one of the major contributing factors in the development of neurodegenerative disorders such as excessive exposure to pesticides or heavy metals [14]. There is no complete therapy for neurodegenerative diseases, but some treatments that exist for these diseases try to reduce their symptoms and to maintain patients’ quality of life usually by using drugs for control of symptoms [15]. This means that the prevention of the occurrence of these diseases acquires great need. If, however, the appearance of the disease cannot be avoided, it is important to make the diagnosis as soon as possible, so that there is room for even a partial reversal slowing the progression of the disease. Even when there are genetic factors that predispose to such a disease, lifestyle factors can affect it gene expression and thus suppress or reverse the mechanisms that lead to inflammation and degeneration.

Before diagnosis, computational approaches using feature selection algorithms and data acquisition are able to classify the population of produced biomarkers into groups with a degree of risk for a disease with emphasis on precision medicine [16]. The first stage can involve the introduction of new data mining technologies offering incredible possibilities for processing data in order to draw conclusions that cannot be executed with traditional database methods. Through this process, biomarkers can be correlated with each other and lead to the creation of decision trees through which the importance of each biomarker is proven [17].

The role of digital technology in neurodegenerative diseases is crucial. Digital health refers to service delivery tools and services that use and integrate information and communication technologies to improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and management of health-related issues [18]. At the core of such a design is the systematic and strategic exploitation of real health-related data. The use of primary and secondary health data can reduce the time and cost of hospitalization, absence from work, prevent the onset of other diseases and contribute to more and better years of life. These data are included in the broader context of the category of big data based on their volume, their sources and management capabilities. The digitization of health contributes to better and more accurate diagnoses in patients with neurodegeneration as well as in the administration of more appropriate treatment after data analyses, at improvement and acceleration of clinical trials but also in the creation of documentation knowledge, skills and competences for health professionals [19]. Also, these processes help to offer effective and quality services to vulnerable groups of elderly people as well as in the organization and exercise of the work of professionals (digital archives, tools for detecting/assessing needs and malfunctions) in neurological clinics. Summarizing, digital solutions being developed in health today will define the future of medicine. Digital health solutions focus on prevention, early diagnosis and monitoring of disease as well as on education and guidance, assistance with treatment adherence, care coordination and remote monitoring. In the context of neurodegenerative disease, these processes can develop health applications for mobile devices, compatible with the conditions of development of new treatments, with specialized solutions that will satisfy the needs of patients, health care providers and all health professionals.