The World Health Organization estimates that by the year 2040, neurodegenerative disease (ND) will be second only to heart disease as a cause of death in developed countries, overtaking cancer-related deaths. There is no cure for NDs, which cause debilitating cognitive and physical decline. 

Precision medicine is an approach to tailoring disease prevention and treatment to the characteristics of the patient. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools have enormous potential for developing precision medicine approaches for NDs; however, vast amounts of data are needed to do this. 

Applied intentionally, AI and machine learning tools can accelerate progress for ND research by (1) identifying mechanisms for disease prevention, (2) ensuring early and accurate diagnosis, and (3) developing and assigning precision treatment strategies for all patients with an ND. Milken Institute Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) has been working to bring strategic collaboration and funding to the field to ensure AI and machine learning tools receive the investment needed to build an infrastructure for their application of AI to drive accelerated progress in enabling precision medicine for NDs.

Milken Institute SPARC partnered with the 10,000 Brains Project to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the state of AI in ND research. This rigorous, unbiased due diligence step—integrating perspectives from stakeholders across the AI and ND research and drug development ecosystems—resulted in a Giving Smarter Guide which identified key opportunities to address and fill identified barriers to progress, as well as specific areas where funders are well-suited to bolster these opportunities.