{"id":226482,"date":"2025-12-04T15:14:49","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T01:14:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=226482"},"modified":"2025-12-04T15:14:49","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T01:14:49","slug":"ai-driven-research-alzheimers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/12\/04\/ai-driven-research-alzheimers\/","title":{"rendered":"AI<\/abbr>-driven research aims to slow and reverse Alzheimer\u2019s in Hawai\u02bbi"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"caregiver<\/p>\n

A groundbreaking effort to harness artificial intelligence (AI<\/abbr>) to slow—and potentially reverse—Alzheimer\u2019s disease symptoms in Hawaiʻi<\/span> is underway at the University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at Mānoa. Katy Tarrit, assistant professor in the Department of Information and Computer Sciences<\/a>, is leading this new, locally focused 18-month research initiative.<\/p>\n

The project aims to develop a novel AI<\/abbr>-powered approach that is culturally tailored to Hawaiʻi<\/span>\u2019s diverse population and integrates multiple physiological data sources—including brain activity and other biomarkers—to better understand and combat Alzheimer\u2019s disease. By identifying subtle physiological patterns that clinicians might not easily observe, Tarrit\u2019s team hopes to guide more accurate, personalized interventions that can slow or prevent disease progression.<\/p>\n

“Our goal is to bring forward an approach that reflects the unique cultural, social and biological context of our islands,” said Tarrit. “By integrating multiple types of health data, we hope to uncover new insights that can improve prevention, treatment and the overall quality of life for Hawaiʻi<\/span>\u2019s families and kūpuna.”<\/p>\n

The project received $60,000 in funding from the Hawaiʻi<\/span> Community Foundation<\/a> (HCF<\/abbr>) through its Medical Research Program, supported by the Ingeborg V.F. McKee Fund. The program advances scientific research on Alzheimer\u2019s disease, juvenile diabetes, heart disease and cancer. According to HCF<\/abbr>, this effort aligns with its mission to strengthen Hawaiʻi<\/span>\u2019s medical research community and improve long-term health outcomes across the islands.<\/p>\n

“We are deeply grateful to the Hawaiʻi<\/span> Community Foundation for enabling this important effort to address Alzheimer\u2019s disease in our islands,” Tarrit added. “Their support helps us harness AI<\/abbr> and technology in ways that honor Hawaiʻi<\/span>\u2019s multicultural identity and deliver effective health solutions shaped by local needs and values.”<\/p>\n

This initiative contributes to a growing statewide commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technologies—such as AI<\/abbr>, multimodal data analytics and digital health tools—to address major public health challenges affecting local families and kūpuna.<\/p>\n

The Department of Information and Computer Sciences is part of 糖心视频<\/abbr> Mānoa\u2019s College of Natural Sciences<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The team hopes to guide more accurate, personalized interventions that can slow or prevent disease progression.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":174832,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[972,308,541,165,484,1467,1363,568,1600,9],"class_list":["post-226482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research","tag-alzheimers-disease","tag-college-of-natural-sciences","tag-computer-science","tag-health","tag-information-and-computer-science","tag-manoa-excellence-in-research","tag-manoa-research","tag-natural-science","tag-public-impact-research","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t