AI-PoweredHope wins Rep. Deborah K. Ross’ 2024 Congressional App Challenge in North Carolina’s Second District

When asked what inspired the creation of AI-PoweredHope, the student said, “One of North Carolina’s most prominent attractions has always been its outstanding state fair. In the fall of 2017, an elderly lady wandered alone into a sea of people without notice, and her family almost lost her forever. This older woman was my grandmother, who suffers from late stages of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). This has inspired me to research neurodegenerative diseases like AD and Parkinson’s disease (PD). As I delved deeper into the subject, I was shocked to learn that millions of Americans are affected by these conditions. Early detection and treatment are crucial, as they can significantly improve patients’ quality of life and reduce the risk of disease progression.

During my literature review, I came across a study by Zham et al. (2017) that explored the potential for detecting Parkinson’s disease by having patients draw a spiral or wave. While this study demonstrated the viability of using such simple tasks for early detection, it did not incorporate newer technologies like machine learning. This sparked my curiosity, as my passion for data science and artificial intelligence led me to see the untapped potential of using these advanced technologies to improve the accuracy and efficiency of early diagnosis. Inspired by this, I set out to apply machine learning techniques to further enhance the detection process and contribute to advancing the field.

Like my grandmother, many people may lack awareness of neurodegenerative diseases, be unable to afford expensive diagnostic procedures, or feel hesitant to undergo invasive testing. This innovative research aims to improve PD healthcare and enhance the quality of life for individuals who may not have easy access to medical professionals.”