New Research Utilizes Machine Learning to Address Social Isolation Among Alzheimer’s Caregivers

A new study from the College of Public Health at George Mason University, led by Professor Janusz Wojtusiak and Health Services Research doctoral candidate Ghaida Alsadah, explores the use of machine learning to predict social isolation among caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.

This research, which has been selected for funding by the Commonwealth of Virginia's Alzheimer's and Related Diseases Research Award Fund (ARDRAF), marks a significant advance in leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to address a critical public health issue.

Alsadah has played a pivotal role in this study, contributing her expertise as a doctoral candidate to develop and refine machine learning models. These models analyze data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to identify and predict social isolation trajectories among caregivers. The study’s key finding is that AI-driven methods offer a novel approach to detecting social isolation, potentially leading to targeted interventions.

“This research is groundbreaking in its application of machine learning to predict social isolation among caregivers, an area previously underexplored,” said Wojtusiak. “The potential to develop AI-based interventions could significantly enhance the well-being of caregivers who often face profound social and emotional challenges.”

The study aims to construct predictive models for social isolation, adapt them for Medicare claims data, and simulate their application across large populations. The goal is to create a framework for AI-based interventions to address loneliness among caregivers effectively.

The innovation of this work lies in its use of machine learning to analyze and predict social isolation—a new approach with the potential to transform current understanding and interventions. Wojtusiak and Alsadah’s research is set to significantly impact health informatics and caregiver support. “Predicting Social Isolation Among Alzheimer’s Caregivers Using Machine Learning” will be published in an upcoming issue of a leading health informatics journal, emphasizing the importance of innovative approaches to complex public health challenges.

Additional contributors include College of Public Health alumna Mary Louise Pomeroy, a postdoctoral research fellow at Johns Hopkins University, who provided valuable expertise on social isolation and relevant datasets.