[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] Software that determines the possibility of dementia through brainwave analysis is set to be released in the first half of this year. By utilizing brainwave data from many healthy individuals and Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), it enables simple and affordable dementia prevention testing, attracting attention.
Seong Yun-mo, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, visited 'iMediSyn' located in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul, on the 12th to review excellent cases of industrial intelligence that created new services using data and AI. iMediSyn is a venture company that develops and produces medical device software. Recently, it developed 'iSyncBrain,' a solution that analyzes brainwaves to determine the possibility of mild cognitive impairment, a pre-stage of dementia.
This product measures brainwaves and compares and analyzes them with brainwave data from healthy individuals, enabling early diagnosis of dementia risk. If there is a risk of dementia, dietary therapy, medication prescriptions, and other treatments can be followed according to hospital guidance.
Previously, to determine mild cognitive impairment, an MRI scan or the MoCA test, which involves solving problems in a test format, was required. The test cost was in the tens of thousands of won and took more than an hour, making preventive testing difficult.
Using iSyncBrain, the test is completed in about 10 minutes at a cost of 20,000 to 30,000 won. This allows dementia risk to be diagnosed more easily and accurately than existing methods. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the accuracy of iSyncBrain in screening mild cognitive impairment is about 91%, approximately 10% higher than the existing MoCA test (81%).
Until now, the domestic and international medical industries have expressed the need for a method to diagnose brain diseases such as dementia through brainwave measurement. However, due to insufficient brainwave data from healthy individuals, appropriate solutions had not been developed.
Accordingly, the National Institute of Technology and Standards began accumulating brainwave data from over 1,300 healthy individuals in 2011. In 2018, iMediSyn acquired this data through data trading and succeeded in developing iSyncBrain by integrating AI.
iSyncBrain passed clinical trials by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in October last year and is expected to be applied to medical devices as early as the first half of this year. In the future, efforts are being made to develop technology that can diagnose not only dementia but also Parkinson's, ADHD, depression, various addictions, and other brain diseases using brainwaves.
With the enforcement of the 'Data 3 Act,' which passed the National Assembly last month, the scope of personal information use will expand, and it is expected to be applied to various industries.
Minister Seong said, "With the passage of the Data 3 Act, the concept of pseudonymous information has been introduced, expanding the scope of personal information use, making it easier to accumulate and utilize data in the future."
He added, "This case is significant in that it produced tangible results that the public can feel, contributing to the improvement of public health by utilizing data and AI."
Meanwhile, the role of the National Institute of Technology and Standards' 'reference standards' was significant in achieving results using standardized data. Reference standards are standard data certified by the state after evaluating the accuracy and reliability of data. Currently, 36 data centers hold a total of 100 types of data in fields such as physics, materials, health and medical care, and life sciences.
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