AI in neurological care could increase health inequalities, a new report warns

As the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare rapidly expands, a comprehensive new report co-authored by UCLA Health says the same technology that can help doctors detect strokes or seizures could also worsen health disparities if adequate protections are not in place.

The report, published in the magazine neurologythe medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, examined the growing role of AI in neurological care. While the technology has already shown benefits, such as allowing doctors to make faster decisions when classifying brain tumors or analyzing stroke imaging, researchers note that AI’s reliance on large data sets poses a risk to patients in vulnerable populations that are already underrepresented and underdiagnosed in research.

At the same time, AI has the potential to enable healthcare providers in resource-limited settings to detect early signs of neurological diseases from clinical notes, and enable clinics to improve uptake of…