The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) has collaborated with Intel to improve research on Parkinson's disease monitoring and treatment through the use of big data technologies.
As per the deal, MJFF and Intel will conduct a multiphase research study using big data analytics platform, which detects patterns in participant data collected from wearable technologies used to monitor symptoms.
The study will enable researchers and physicians to measure progression of the disease to find breakthroughs in drug development.
Intel Data Center Group senior vice president and general manager Diane Bryant said the variability in Parkinson’s symptoms creates unique challenges in monitoring progression of the disease.
"Emerging technologies can not only create a new paradigm for measurement of Parkinson’s, but as more data is made available to the medical community, it may also point to currently unidentified features of the disease that could lead to new areas of research," Bryant added.
Earlier this year, MJFF and Intel initiated a study to evaluate the usability and accuracy of wearable devices to track agreed physiological features from participants. They also used a big data analytics platform to collect and analyze the data.
The participants, including 16 Parkinson’s patients and nine control volunteers, wore the devices during two clinic visits and at home continuously over four days.
Currently, Intel data scientists are correlating the data collected to clinical observations and patient diaries to gauge the devices’ accuracy. They are also developing algorithms to measure symptoms and disease progression.
Intel and MJFF also plan to introduce new mobile application that enables patients to report their medication intake as well as how they are feeling
Image: Anonymous patient data is aggregated and analyzed for new insight into Parkinson’s disease through a new partnership between Intel and the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Photo: courtesy of Intel Corporation.