Neuro-AI to revolutionise mental health treatment within a decade - Neurologist declares
From Justina Asishana, Minna Artificial Intelligence is set to completely revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of mental health and neurodegenerative diseases within the next five to ten years, a leading
From Justina Asishana, Minna
Artificial Intelligence is set to completely revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of mental health and neurodegenerative diseases within the next five to ten years, a leading neuroscience expert, Professor Barnabas Danborno has declared.
Speaking at the close of a recent five-day Neuro-AI training programme organised by Smartbrains Neuroscience School at Bingham University, Karu, Danborno predicted that the imminent convergence of neuroscience and artificial intelligence will usher in an era of personalised neuromedicine.
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"This breakthrough will allow for the early diagnosis of conditions such as blindness and severe neurological disorders, utilising advanced wearable technologies to mitigate and prevent disease progression before symptoms fully develop", he said.
Despite the global pivot towards this life-saving technology, Danborno, who is the Coordinator of the School, warned that Nigeria is severely lagging behind in neuroscience research and innovation due to a lack of attention and resources, urging the government to recognise the critical importance of human brain research and commit to immediate funding.
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He noted that international bodies like the United Nations already heavily back global initiatives through the International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO).
"The integration of these fields is functioning as a powerful two-way street. While AI is accelerating medical research and clinical teaching, the biological study of the human brain is simultaneously helping technology companies build smarter, highly energy-efficient hardware", he stated.
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The expert highlighted the rise of neuromorphic computing, where processors are designed to mimic the human brain's ability to operate on minimal power, adding that this development directly addresses the massive energy consumption of traditional AI models, which currently contributes significantly to global climate change.
Addressing widespread public fears about artificial intelligence eliminating human jobs, Danborno dismissed such concerns as a myth born entirely from a natural resistance to change clarifying that while the technology itself will not replace human workers, professionals who adopt and utilise AI tools will inevitably replace those who refuse to adapt.
The intensive five-day capacity-building programme was designed to expose young students and scientists to the complex frontier of computational neuroscience.
Acknowledging the steep learning curve, Danborno encouraged early-career researchers to persist through the initial challenges, ensuring the next generation of scientists is adequately prepared to lead the medical and technological innovations of the future.
