Customized CNN Model for Alzheimer's Disease Stages Classification and Comparison with Transfer Learning

Alzheimer's disease, the predominant form of dementia, progressively worsens over time, initially causing mild memory loss and eventually severely hampering daily tasks and communication abilities. This degenerative condition affects regions of the brain integral to cognition, memory, and language. Due to its intricate nature, symptom experiences and progression can vary among individuals. This study proposes a predictive model to discern Alzheimer's stages. Leveraging “deep learning” techniques through convolutional neural networks (CNNs), the algorithm is trained on an extensive dataset of brain MRI scans. It learns to recognize pivotal features and correlate them with diverse disease phases. The Customized CNN model's accuracy of 94.37% surpasses alternative machine learning methods, including transfer learning. This precision empowers early prediction, significantly benefiting patient care and therapeutic strategies, thereby enhancing Alzheimer's disease management.