A study evaluating BrainSpec Core, an AI-powered magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) platform, has found that its software identified previously undetected injuries in 90% of people with a history of traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

BrainSpec’s platform, which received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2023, measures brain chemistry. According to the company, long-term damage and permanent side effects associated with mild TBI may be too subtle for conventional imaging and its platform can further assess changes in neuronal metabolites in the brain to detect non-visual abnormalities following a TBI.

During the study, doctors at Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM) in St Louis, US, used BrainSpec to evaluate 65 individuals with a history of mild TBI, finding that with MRS, at least one neurometabolite was detected in 90% with the use of BrainSpec to examine molecular changes directly resulting from the underlying tissue injury in a TBI.

Findings of the study were published in online journal BMC Neurology, the WUSM team concluded that the study highlighted the value of pairing standard imaging methods with quantitative MR imaging techniques such as structural volumetric analysis in the evaluation of TBIs and additional underlying conditions associated with it.

“There have been significant advancements in AI-powered software leading to improved clinical utility, enhanced imaging capabilities, and better healthcare outcomes. AI-driven platforms like BrainSpec, which utilise advanced neuroimaging techniques, offer comprehensive and non-invasive diagnostic support,” said BrainSpec CEO and co-founder Alexandra Zimmerman.

BrainSpec allows clinicians to delve deeper, measuring brain chemistry to provide a richer and more detailed view.”

Past research by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 2.5 million people visit emergency departments for TBI in the US each year, with over 8% of those visits requiring hospitalisation.

BrainSpec has previously said that its platform is compatible with MRI scanners manufactured by Siemens, GE Healthcare, and Philips, who, according to a GlobalData market model, occupy a combined MRI market share of around 77%.

A 2023 report by GlobalData forecasts that AI platforms across healthcare will reach a global valuation of $18.8bn by 2027.