Oregon State University (OSU) researchers are pioneering a personalized medicine approach for epilepsy management using an AI-driven saliva test. Supported by a $1.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, the team is developing a system that allows for rapid, at-home monitoring of anti-epileptic drug (AED) levels to optimize dosing.
Addressing the Challenges of Epilepsy Management
Epilepsy, a neurological disorder affecting approximately 3.4 million people in the United States, is characterized by seizures, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness. Effective management relies on AEDs, but determining the optimal dose is challenging due to a narrow therapeutic range that varies significantly among patients. According to the CDC, the mental health impacts include a suicide risk that's more than 20% greater than that of the general population. Suboptimal dosing can lead to breakthrough seizures or toxic side effects, including poor muscle control, disorientation, hallucinations, and even coma.
Saliva-Based Monitoring System
Traditional blood tests for measuring drug levels can take several days to return results, limiting their utility for timely dose adjustments. To overcome this limitation, the OSU team, led by Stephen Ramsey, Elain Fu, and Matthew Johnston, is focusing on saliva as an easily accessible and non-invasive alternative.
"Saliva, which is easily and non-invasively accessed, has terrific potential for health monitoring," said Fu, an associate professor of chemical engineering. However, she noted that the complex composition of saliva poses a challenge for accurate electrochemical detection of AEDs due to potential signal interference.
AI-Powered Personalization
To address the challenges of saliva analysis, the researchers are incorporating artificial intelligence and machine learning into the device. Ramsey, a biomedical and computer science researcher, explained that AI will be used to sort through the interference and determine the appropriate drug dose on a personalized basis.
The envisioned system involves patients using the device at home to measure their AED levels. This data, along with patient-reported information on side effects and breakthrough seizures, would be wirelessly transmitted to their doctor. "The doctor would have access to an app that would show the patient's medication levels over time, with information about when side effects and breakthrough seizures occurred. We envision that this will help identify the patient's optimal dose," Ramsey stated.
This innovative approach promises to transform epilepsy management by providing real-time, personalized feedback to patients and clinicians, ultimately leading to improved seizure control and reduced side effects.
