Improving kids autism and ADHD diagnoses through BlinkLab collaboration
An ongoing study by Monash University’s School of Psychological Sciences to improve Autism Spectrum Disorder (autism) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnosis and support has been strengthened by a new two-year collaboration with BlinkLab, a digital healthcare company developing smartphone-based AI-powered diagnostic tests for neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions.
The MAGNET project is an ongoing large cohort study aiming to enrol 1000 families with children aged four to 18 with only ADHD, only autism, or co-occurring ADHD and autism. The study employs a family-based design, where children with autism and/or ADHD, their siblings and their parents are all enrolled in the study.
The MAGNET project aims to unravel the complex symptoms of autism and ADHD and why they overlap in some children. The data generated by the study will address several limitations in the way neurodevelopmental conditions are currently diagnosed, and provide a more dimensional understanding of neurodevelopment and mental health, leading to better diagnostic models and more personalised support for children.
The MAGNET Project also aims to isolate data-driven subtypes using deep phenotyping data that might outperform current categorical diagnoses, with potential future implications for better and more personalised autism and ADHD diagnosis and treatment. This will be enhanced through the use of BlinkLab’s easily accessible smartphone app, which provides specifically designed screening tests for children.
The app will measure 'prepulse inhibition' (PPI), one of the key measures used in BlinkLab diagnostics, and considered a good proxy for sensorimotor gating, which is the brain's ability to filter out irrelevant information and prioritise relevant information. Altered PPI has been observed within populations with either autism and ADHD or both, but despite the high rates of co-occurrence, there is a lack of research on the differences in PPI among people with only ADHD, only autism, or both. Objective behavioural markers, like PPI, could potentially play an important role in the next generation of diagnostic pathways and personalised interventions.
The study will also allow for the investigation into how BlinkLab’s digital biomarkers, including the PPI measure, correlate with other validated behavioural and neurocognitive markers. Using deep phenotyping and machine learning techniques, the MAGNET research team aim to uncover novel, homogeneous data-driven clusters with significant future implications for better and more personalised autism and ADHD diagnosis and treatment.
Lead researcher Professor Mark Bellgrove of the School of Psychological Sciences said that he was delighted to collaborate with BlinkLab on the MAGNET study. “BlinkLab’s innovative digital technologies make it easy for the children and families enrolled in the study to be invited to provide critical data,” he said. “This will hopefully lead to better outcomes for future families and children diagnosed with these two complex conditions.”
Dr Henk-Jan Boele, CEO of BlinkLab, said that he was pleased to partner with Monash University. “From the very foundation of our technology and BlinkLab, our mission was always to disrupt the traditional methods of diagnosis and categorisation of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental conditions so we can develop more objective methods leading to more personalised treatments and therapeutic interventions,” he said. “Participation in this landmark study with the world leading researchers and authorities in the field of autism and ADHD is a testament to our mission and hard work by our team.”
About BlinkLab Limited
BlinkLab, a company founded by neuroscientists at Princeton University, over the past several years has fully developed a smartphone-based diagnostic platform for autism, ADHD, schizophrenia, and other neuropsychiatric conditions. BlinkLab’s most advanced product is an autism diagnostic test that leverages the power of smartphones, AI and machine learning to deliver screening tests specifically designed for children as young as 18 months old. This marks a significant advancement, considering traditional diagnoses typically occur around five years of age, often missing the crucial early window for effective intervention. BlinkLab is led by an experienced management team and directors with a proven track record in building companies and vast knowledge in digital healthcare, computer vision, AI and machine learning. The company’s Scientific Advisory Board consists of leading experts in the field of autism and brain development allowing to bridge the most advanced technological innovations with groundbreaking scientific research.
About Monash University
Monash University is Australia’s largest university with more than 80,000 students. In the 60 years since its foundation, it has developed a reputation for world-leading high-impact research, quality teaching, and inspiring innovation.
With four campuses in Australia and a presence in Malaysia, China, India, Indonesia and Italy, it is one of the most internationalised Australian universities.
As a leading international medical research university with the largest medical faculty in Australia and integration with leading Australian teaching hospitals, we consistently rank in the top 50 universities worldwide for clinical, pre-clinical and health sciences.
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