Classification of Alzheimer Condition using MR Brain Images and Inception-Residual Network Model

Abstract

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is an irreversible progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging based deep learning models with visualization capabilities are essential for the precise diagnosis of AD. In this study, an attempt has been made to categorize AD and Healthy Controls (HC) using structural MR images and an Inception-Residual Network (ResNet) model. For this, T1- weighted MR brain images are acquired from a public database. These images are pre-processed and are applied to a two-layer Inception-ResNet-A model. Additionally, Gradient weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) is employed to visualize the significant regions in MR images identified by the model for AD classification. The network performance is validated using standard evaluation metrics. Results demonstrate that the proposed Inception-ResNet model differentiates AD from HC using MR brain images. The model achieves an average recall and precision of 69%. The Grad- CAM visualization identified lateral ventricles in the mid-axial slice as the most discriminative brain regions for AD classification. Thus, the computer aided diagnosis study could be useful in the visualization and automated analysis of AD diagnosis with minimal medical expertise.

Keywords

• alzheimer’s disease
• inception-residual network
• visualization
• class activation mapping