A new artificial intelligence (AI) tool developed by UK researchers has shown the ability to detect two-thirds of epilepsy-related brain lesions that doctors often miss, potentially improving treatment for thousands of patients.

The tool, named MELD Graph, was created by experts from King's College London and University College London. It analyzes MRI scans to identify brain abnormalities, particularly focal cortical dysplasia, a common cause of epilepsy when medication fails to control seizures.

In a study published in "JAMA Neurology", researchers fed MRI scans from more than 1,185 patients across 23 hospitals into the AI system. Among them, 703 had brain abnormalities. The AI processed the images faster and in greater detail than doctors, helping detect subtle lesions that are often overlooked.

Dr. Konrad Wagstyl, the lead researcher, emphasized the significance of this breakthrough but acknowledged the tool’s limitations. "AI can find about two-thirds that doctors miss – but a third are still really difficult to find," he said.

One notable case involved a 12-year-old boy in Italy who had been on nine different epilepsy medications without success. The AI tool identified a subtle lesion that radiologists had missed, paving the way for potential surgical intervention.

Prof. Helen Cross, a childhood epilepsy consultant and study co-author, said the AI tool could "rapidly identify abnormalities that can be removed and potentially cure epilepsy." She noted that many children endure years of seizures and medical investigations before a lesion is found.

Epilepsy Action, a UK charity, described the AI's potential as "really exciting," though experts cautioned that more research is needed before the tool can be licensed for clinical use. Additionally, epilepsy specialists highlighted the ongoing shortage of trained epilepsy nurses in England.

Dr. Ley Sander from the Epilepsy Society stressed the importance of further studies, stating, "If the tool can identify more people as candidates for brain surgery, it could be life-changing for many more people with epilepsy."

While awaiting official approval, the researchers have made MELD Graph available as open-source software, allowing hospitals worldwide to use it for clinical research.