Frederick Wallace Smith (left), founder of FedEx and former member of Mayo Clinic’s Board of Trustees, established the Windland Smith Rice Sudden Cardiac Death Program in memory of his daughter stands with program leader Michael Ackerman, M.D., Ph.D.
Frederick W. Smith, former Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees member and founder of FedEx, passed away on June 21.
Frederick Wallace Smith, former member of Mayo Clinic’s Board of Trustees and the founder of FedEx, passed away on Saturday, June 21.
“Mr. Smith was a true pioneer, driven by a desire to change the world and improve the lives of those around him,” says Gianrico Farrugia, M.D., CEO of Mayo Clinic. “He was a tireless advocate for innovation and a humble, capable leader. He will be remembered for his insight, curiosity, intelligence, and humor.”
Mr. Smith was born on Aug. 11, 1944, in Marks, Mississippi. While studying economics at Yale University, he worked as a charter pilot and developed his transformative vision for overnight delivery. In 1966, Mr. Smith joined the United States Marine Corps, completing two tours in Vietnam. He received two Purple Hearts for his service.
In the early 1970s, Mr. Smith founded Federal Express, later known as FedEx, which pioneered express delivery. Despite the company’s initial struggles, Mr. Smith took Federal Express public in 1978 and eventually expanded its reach to more than 220 countries and territories. He championed a people-first philosophy, including a commitment to treating employees fairly.
Mr. Smith served on Mayo Clinic’s Board of Trustees from 1998 to 2006, contributing his deep knowledge of public policy and astute counsel. A bold, forward-thinking entrepreneur, he was dedicated to continuous improvement, even if that meant making mistakes. As he famously said, “Fear of failure must never be a reason not to try something.”
Mr. Smith’s legacy at Mayo Clinic includes the Windland Smith Rice Comprehensive Sudden Cardiac Death Program, named for his late daughter who had long QT syndrome, a genetic heart rhythm disorder. Established in 2006, the program’s ongoing efforts reflect Mr. Smith’s compassion, generosity and desire to help others.
“His partnership has enabled us to move the needle faster, farther, across Mayo’s three shields for his family’s disease. Out of his tragic loss, he created a program that has saved countless lives,” says Michael Ackerman, M.D., Ph.D., the Windland Smith Rice Cardiovascular Genomics Research Professor at Mayo Clinic. “He was so understated and humble, yet so incredibly influential.”
After stepping down as CEO of FedEx in 2022, Mr. Smith continued as the executive chairman of the company’s board of directors. Throughout his career, he also served on the boards of several other large companies and charitable organizations. Beyond his many professional accomplishments, he was a husband, father of 10, grandfather, great grandfather and lifelong philanthropist.
“He was an amazing man,” says Dr. Ackerman. “There are very few on this planet like Mr. Smith.”
In the 50 years since it was identified, Lyme disease has become one of the most recognized and widespread vector-borne illnesses in the world. Transmitted by ticks, this elusive infection presents ongoing challenges in detection and treatment. In this episode of Tomorrow’s Cure, we explore how researchers are advancing diagnostic tools to detect Lyme disease — and what these innovations mean for the future of global health.
The episode features two leading experts including Bobbi Pritt, M.D., microbiologist and pathologist at Mayo Clinic, and Allen Steere, M.D., a rheumatologist, director of Translational Research and Rheumatology at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Together, they discuss the latest advancements and the ongoing efforts to better control Lyme disease.
Dr. Steere identified Lyme disease in 1976 while investigating a cluster of children in Lyme, Connecticut, who were experiencing unexplained arthritis. His research ultimately led to the discovery and naming of the disease. Since then, researchers have devoted their efforts to advancing diagnostic tools, treatments and vaccine development.
Lyme disease continues to grow in prevalence, driven by factors such as climate change, ticks’ ability to thrive in diverse environments, urbanization and increased global travel. As ticks adapt and spread, the development of effective and innovative testing methods becomes increasingly vital to improve patient outcomes and enhance the ability to respond swiftly to outbreaks.
Lyme disease is challenging to detect given its ability to mimic other illnesses or appear asymptomatic altogether. “There may not be specific symptoms when the patient comes in that would tell them this is a vector-borne disease,” said Dr. Steere. “There may be symptoms that we commonly see with infection, or they may also be absent.”
Given this challenge, the development of better diagnostic tools is critical.
“My job as a pathologist and microbiologist specializing in laboratory diagnostics is to create tests that can accurately detect the disease at various stages,” Dr. Pritt said. “And equally important is guiding my clinical colleagues on which tests to order.”
One promising advancement is the use of metagenomics, a cutting-edge technique that enables the simultaneous detection of multiple genomes. This approach allows for the identification of bacteria, DNA and RNA viruses, fungi and parasites in a single assessment.
As researchers continue to advance the science, the outlook for more effective detection and treatment of Lyme disease grows increasingly promising. To learn more about these transformative advancements, listen to the latest episode of Tomorrow’s Cure. The podcast is available on all audio platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. Episodes are also available on Mayo Clinic’s YouTube channel.
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I know there’s a knee replacement in my not too distant future. I’m wondering if there are new techniques or technologies that will give me a good outcome?
ANSWER: Not so long ago, undergoing a total hip or knee replacement and recovery was a grueling and often painful ordeal. While these are still major surgeries, new techniques and technologies are redefining them — and improving people’s outcomes.
Robotic-assisted joint replacement technology has revolutionized hip and knee surgeries. This technology allows the surgeon to:
Prepare the bone and insert the implants with an unprecedented level of precision.
Produce personalized, patient-specific joint replacements.
In addition, major advances have been made in anesthesia used for total joint replacement surgery in the past decade. With these advances, patients recover more quickly and get up and move sooner after surgery with less pain, nausea and vomiting.
Another rapidly advancing technology in orthopedic surgery is 3D printing, which allows the designing and creation of custom implants to address challenging problems, including deformities, bone loss, and unusual hip or knee anatomy.
This promising technology needs more long-term data before it becomes widely used. Mayo Clinic is at the forefront of 3D printing and has been integral in advancing its clinical applications.
If a total hip or knee replacement is in your future, here’s what you can expect.
Hip replacements
Any patient who is a candidate for a “conventional” total hip replacement is a candidate for a robotic-assisted total hip replacement.
Hip replacements are no longer a one-technique-fits-all approach. With a “360 degree” approach, your surgeon can tailor the surgery to you, choosing from direct anterior, posterior or anterolateral approaches. The surgeon will discuss these options with you during your pre-op consultation.
The surgeon also will review with you the entire surgical experience in detail. You’ll also have a standardized patient education session with a specialty nurse and pre-op evaluation by a physical therapist. These sessions will set you up for success beginning immediately after surgery.
When it comes to recovery and rehabilitation:
For most patients, total hip replacement surgery is either a same-day surgery or a one-night hospital stay.
Patients can walk and navigate stairs right after surgery.
The majority of patients will follow a self-directed physical therapy plan at home — no need to go to an outpatient physical therapy facility.
Knee replacements
As with hip replacements, any patient who is a candidate for a conventional total knee replacement is a candidate for robotic-assisted total knee replacement. You’ll also take part in a comprehensive education experience and physical therapy assessment to review the technique your surgeon will use during surgery.
Like hip replacements, total knee replacements typically are same-day surgeries or may involve a one-night hospital stay.
Once you’ve awakened from the anesthesia, you can walk and navigate stairs. Within one week after surgery, you’ll begin meeting with a physical therapist who specializes in working with knee-replacement patients. For best results with strength and range of motion, you’ll also be assigned daily exercises to do at home to supplement your physical therapy sessions at an outpatient facility.
The excellent news for total hip and knee replacement patients is that the techniques and technologies for these surgeries continue to evolve. They have the primary goals of reducing pain, enhancing function, and getting patients back to their day-to-day activities and those they love to do.
Brandon Bukowski, M.D., Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic Health System, Mankato, Minnesota
For most athletes, the road to the Olympics is paved with years of training and sacrifice. As professional tennis player Gaby Dabrowski was preparing for her 2024 season and a chance to play in the Summer Olympics, her journey took an unexpected detour. A diagnosis of breast cancer threatened her dream and her life.
What followed was a carefully coordinated plan at Mayo Clinic, designed not only to treat the cancer but also to preserve her ability to compete on the world stage.
Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (2:05) is in the downloads at the end of the post. Please courtesy: “Mayo Clinic News Network.” Read the script.
“I started playing tennis when I was 7 years old,” Gaby says. “Growing up, the Olympics were always on TV for two weeks in the summer, so it was always my dream to compete at the Olympics.”
Heading into the 2024 season, Gaby was ready to realize her childhood dream. But when she found a lump on her breast, Gaby’s focus went immediately to her health.
Dr. Jennifer Maynard, a Mayo Clinic family medicine physician specializing in sports medicine, helped coordinate Gaby’s care.
“We recommended a pretty urgent evaluation, as she was over 30, we wanted to get the mammogram and the ultrasound,” says Dr. Maynard.
Those results were abnormal. A breast MRI followed, then a biopsy confirmed the lump was cancer.
“When I was diagnosed, I didn’t know if I would be able to play tennis again,” Gaby says.
“She knew her ultimate goal was to be an Olympian at the Paris Olympics, so we had to be innovative and think outside the box,” says Dr. Maynard.
Gaby’s care team had to consider how to treat her cancer in a way that avoided the muscles used in playing tennis.
Gaby’s care team developed a plan where treatment would not affect her tennis serve.
In the spring of 2024, she underwent surgery, then targeted radiation. Treatment was successful, and Gaby was cancer-free.
“Even though I wasn’t playing on court and playing the game that I love, it was like swapping in the care team as my partners,” Gaby says.
As soon as her care team cleared her, Gaby resumed training. Her dedication paid off in Paris. Gaby and her doubles partner earned an Olympic bronze medal, living out a dream.
Gaby with her Olympic medal.
“When I was on the podium holding the medal, I really just felt full elation,” Gaby says. “I didn’t feel like it was just a win for me. I felt like it was a win for everyone: my best friends, my parents, my coaching team, my care team.”
Gaby has continued to find success on the court in tournaments and off, as an advocate for personal health.
“I certainly have a newfound appreciation for playing a sport as my job, but at the same time, if you took it away from me right now, I’d be OK because I have my health, and that’s the most important thing,” Gaby says.
Cancer, stroke, bone loss among diseases and conditions studied in microgravity
JACKSONVILLE, Florida — Mayo Clinic physician and researcher Dr. Abba Zubair’s work combines two passions — medicine and space — for the benefit of astronauts and people on Earth. His research in space is yielding discoveries in cancer, stroke, bone loss and more. In this expert alert, Dr. Zubair answers five questions about his studies in microgravity.
What are you hoping to accomplish through your research?
“The goal is to harness the uniqueness of the space environment for the betterment of humanity, be it on Earth or in space,” Dr. Zubair says.”We wanted to take advantage of the environment at the International Space Station to study how it affects human physiology.”
The absence of gravity and the impacts of radiation and vacuum are three fundamental aspects of the uniqueness of space, adds Dr. Zubair, who has sent three research projects to the International Space Station (ISS) since 2017, with more to come.
As a regenerative biotherapeutics specialist, Dr. Zubair’s work focuses in part on adult stem cells — known as mesenchymal stem cells —and their use in future treatments for stroke. He noted that he uses stem cells in regenerative medicine and in supporting Mayo’s bone marrow transplant program.
“I also know how challenging it is to grow them in the lab. One of the first fundamentals is to see how the absence of gravity influences how stem cells divide and the growth rate,” Dr. Zubair explains. “We wanted to see whether cells grown in space are any better or grow faster than cells grown in the lab. When we did our first space flight, we had a really interesting finding, because we realized that the absence of gravity affects stem cells, but it depends on the type of stem cells.”
That led Dr. Zubair to another project on the ISS: studying how mesenchymal stem cells, the precursor for bone-forming cells, play a role in bone formation or osteoporosis, bone loss. He notes that astronauts tend to lose bone density despite rigorous exercise.
How might your research benefit people with cancer?
Dr. Zubair is also studying how leukemia stem cells, the cells that form the seed of this blood cancer, respond to the space environment.
“We are also working to understand the impact of space radiation, from the angle of how we can mitigate the effect of radiation and prevent cancer,” Dr. Zubair says. “In the long run, we really want to protect astronauts, especially during long-term space travel, such as to Mars, where they would be deep in space and away from any magnetic field protection that we get from Earth.”
The research also may benefit people on Earth by revealing how to protect stem cells or cells in general when there is radiation exposure, such as nuclear accidents, he adds.
In addition, Dr. Zubair’s space research could have implications for CAR-T treatment, bone marrow transplants or other therapies for cancer patients.
“If we can understand how stem cells in space, especially hematopoietic stem cells (cells that live in the bone marrow and produce cells that function in the blood), expand and differentiate to make immune cells like T cells, microphages, we will learn how to make them more efficiently,” Dr. Zubair says.
You’ve remarked that you can envision a time when people might go into space to receive certain medical treatments. How would that work, and might it be possible to simulate microgravity for those treatments on Earth?
If cells proliferate more in space, for example if cancer cells go into what is called cell cycle and multiply abnormally when they proliferate, then chemotherapy will be more effective, Dr. Zubair says.
“If that is the case, that absence of gravity can induce leukemia cells or other cancer cells to go into cell cycle, that makes them susceptible to chemotherapy,” he explains. “So instead of giving the chemo on Earth, you might go into space where the absence of gravity makes the cancer cells more vulnerable to chemotherapy. That would be one more reason to go to space. That is definitely something that I would love to explore.”
It would be difficult to create a comparable microgravity environment on Earth, but technically, it could be done, Dr. Zubair adds.
Journalists: Broadcast-quality video is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: “Mayo Clinic News Network.”
“Microgravity on Earth is basically like going into a swimming pool, a state of buoyancy where you are kind of in suspension; the gravity is canceled out by the effect of the water,” he says. “Now, obviously it wouldn’t be pleasant to be in water for quite some time. In the lab, we use a microgravity simulator where cells are suspended. It would be interesting if you could do the same for a human being.”
What attracted you to space research?
Dr. Zubair grew up in Kano, Nigeria, and remembers gazing at the night sky as a child.
“As far back as I can remember, I was always fascinated by what is out there in space. Looking at the moon and all the stars, and really that ignites my passion for space and space exploration,” Dr. Zubair says.
Dr. Zubair’s first dream was to become an astronaut, but an adviser in high school counseled him to find a more practical career, and he pursued medicine.
What’s next?
One of Dr. Zubair’s next two payloads to the International Space Station, not yet scheduled for launch, will examine whether umbilical cord blood cells, rich in stem cells and potential therapeutic value, can be expanded. Another study will explore different cell types that participate in bone formation and whether the problem of bone loss in space can be alleviated through use of a special compound.
“If it works, then definitely we will see how we can treat patients with osteoporosis, particularly women, cancer patients, or people who are bedridden for a long time and are not weight-bearing, which affects their bone,” Dr. Zubair says.
Dr. Zubair notes that all of his space experiments are done in parallel on Earth with identical cells to compare the two results and validate the findings from space.
“I really think there is a lot out there that is just waiting for us to explore and use,” he says. “And that’s why I do what I do.”
Dr. Zubair has been honored by NASA with the Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal for demonstrating that human-derived mesenchymal stem cells grown aboard the International Space Station could be used for potential clinical applications.
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About Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Mayo Clinic announced today a landmark $50 million philanthropic gift from Gilchrist and Amy Berg of Ponte Vedra, Florida. This transformative contribution will accelerate global healthcare innovation through Mayo Clinic’s Innovation Exchange, which will be renamed the Mayo Clinic Berg Innovation Exchange in their honor.
Rooted in the Mayo Clinic Model of Care, the Mayo Clinic Berg Innovation Exchange drives change by serving as a dynamic marketplace that connects global innovators with essential expertise, resources and opportunities at Mayo Clinic — streamlining solutions development and eliminating critical barriers to success.
“The Bergs have been champions of Mayo Clinic’s Innovation Exchange since its earliest days through their gifts of time, thought leadership and financial support,” says Gianrico Farrugia, M.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic. “We are truly grateful for their remarkable generosity and commitment to bringing more innovations to patients.”
Active participants since the exchange’s inception in 2019, the Bergs have played a vital role in its development. Their commitment extends beyond financial support; they engage with leadership and contribute to shaping the exchange’s strategic direction.
“To us, this is about more than financial support — it’s about helping shape the future of healthcare innovation with an organization whose culture values excellence, compassion and discovery,” says Gilchrist Berg. “When you work alongside Mayo Clinic’s visionary leaders, you cannot help but feel energized about Mayo’s abilities to lead on a global stage.”
“We like to get involved with people who have the right values and character,” says Amy Berg. “With Mayo Clinic, we know we’re supporting an organization that places the patient at the heart of what it does.”
The Mayo Clinic Berg Innovation Exchange’s global footprint spans six continents.
The Mayo Clinic Berg Innovation Exchange fosters collaboration among a curated network of experts in artificial intelligence (AI), digital health, regulatory science, investment, product design and entrepreneurship. The program’s innovators are currently working on advancements in diagnostics, digital tools, devices, research and therapeutics.
This generous gift will:
Fuel research: Advance research leveraging emerging technologies to address critical patient needs.
Foster knowledge: Provide mentorship, peer networking and educational opportunities.
Accelerate collaboration: Enhance collaboration, identify synergies and expedite the development of innovative solutions.
“The Mayo Clinic Berg Innovation Exchange advances science by facilitating and enabling connections that otherwise would not be possible, a key component of Mayo Clinic’s bold vision to transform healthcare,” says Kent Thielen, M.D., CEO of Mayo Clinic in Florida and vice president of Mayo Clinic. “Gilchrist and Amy Berg are strengthening the program’s capacity to form partnerships that deliver faster, stronger solutions to complex medical challenges. We are incredibly grateful for the active partnership and support provided by the Bergs and excited about the impact the Mayo Clinic Berg Innovation Exchange will have on the future of healthcare.”
“Gilchrist and Amy recognize that innovation requires the right support to thrive,” says Charles Bruce, M.B., Ch.B., medical director of the Mayo Clinic Berg Innovation Exchange and chief innovation officer of Mayo Clinic in Florida. “They have provided energy and vision. This gift is a remarkable legacy, ensuring the exchange’s continued success.”
Gilchrist Berg is the founder of Water Street Capital, a private investment firm. Amy Berg currently serves as chair of the World Affairs Council of Jacksonville and president of the Berg Family Foundation.
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About Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education, and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.
BUCARAMANGA, Colombia, and ROCHESTER, Minnesota — Hospital Internacional de Colombia (HIC) and Mayo Clinic announced that HIC in Bucaramanga has joined the Mayo Clinic Care Network. HIC is the first hospital in Colombia and in South America to join the network, a group of carefully vetted health care organizations with special access to Mayo Clinic’s knowledge and expertise.
HIC is one of the highest-rated medical institutions in Latin America and recipient of the Five-Star Global Hospital Rating by Newsweek and Statista.
With the formal signing of the agreement, HIC becomes part of a select group. Created in 2011, the Mayo Clinic Care Network has roughly 45 member organizations across the United States and in Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.
To select network members, Mayo Clinic conducts a thorough evaluation process that includes an in-depth review of each institution’s clinical and business practices, quality, safety, and service efforts. HIC and other members of the Mayo Clinic Care Network remain independent.
“The agreement with Mayo Clinic represents a significant achievement—not only for our institution, but also for Colombia and the entire region. This milestone is the result of more than a year of continuous work, and today we are proud to announce that we are part of the Mayo Clinic Care Network. We take on the responsibility of evolving our care model by progressively incorporating its guidelines into our clinical protocols, workforce training, and safety standards,” said Dr. Víctor Raúl Castillo Mantilla, President of the Hospital Internacional de Colombia – FCV.
Objectives include further strengthening HIC’s diagnostic and treatment capabilities in key areas such as oncology and cardiology, while also enhancing medical training and overall quality of care, Dr. Castillo added.
“Mayo Clinic is pleased to welcome HIC to the Mayo Clinic Care Network,” said Dr. Eric Moore, medical director, Mayo Clinic International, and chair of head and neck surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. “We look forward to working together to develop innovative solutions to advance our common purpose: high-quality, patient-centered care.
Among projects planned, Mayo Clinic will conduct a comprehensive review of HIC’s breast cancer care and offer guidance on best practices in areas including diagnostics, clinical protocols, workflows, and quality. Both institutions will also explore the integration of additional innovative technologies into patient care.
Benefits of Joining the Mayo Clinic Care Network
Through membership in the Mayo Clinic Care Network, HIC physicians have access to Mayo Clinic clinical tools and services, including:
AskMayoExpert
This point-of-care tool offers concise clinical information on hundreds of medical conditions and includes treatment recommendations, clinical protocols, and medical references. The database can be used wherever care is provided.
eBoards
These live, scheduled video conferences allow member hospital medical teams to review and discuss complex cases with a multidisciplinary panel from Mayo Clinic and other physicians across the Mayo Clinic Care Network.
Health Care Consulting
Member hospitals can access Mayo Clinic’s extensive experience, knowledge, and subspecialty expertise to achieve clinical, operational, and business goals.
HIC personnel will also benefit from Mayo Clinic’s patient education materials, professional development opportunities, and continuing medical education. In addition, they will have access to Mayo Clinic-verified medical information through an online database. These tools—along with clinical consulting—will help HIC continue delivering outstanding care to its patients.
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About HIC:
The Hospital Internacional de Colombia (HIC) is one of Latin America’s top-ranked medical institutions, recognized among the Top 10 hospitals in the region by Latam Business Conference (LBC) and awarded the Five Stars Global Hospital Rating by Newsweek and Statista. As a core part of the FCV ecosystem, HIC is located in Bucaramanga, a city in northeastern Colombia, situated in the Andes mountains and approximately 250 miles from the capital, Bogotá.
HIC operates two campuses: a high-complexity medical center with more than 60 specialties, and the Cardiovascular Institute — the facility that marked the start of the hospital’s growth. With its specialized medical divisions and advanced care centers, HIC delivers comprehensive, high-complexity services. Its integrated approach combines patient-centered care, cutting-edge technology, and a strong focus on innovation, research, and medical education.
About Mayo Clinic:
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.
Media contacts:
Yira Guerrero, FCV Head of Press and Protocol, [email protected], +57 322 5251793
Pilar Salcedo, FCV International Public Relations Specialist, [email protected], +1 854236 9726
Dr. David Jones reviews brain scans on a computer at Mayo Clinic.
ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool that helps clinicians identify brain activity patterns linked to nine types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, using a single, widely available scan — a transformative advance in early, accurate diagnosis.
The tool, StateViewer, helped researchers identify the dementia type in 88% of cases, according to research published online on June 27, 2025, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. It also enabled clinicians to interpret brain scans nearly twice as fast and with up to three times greater accuracy than standard workflows. Researchers trained and tested the AI on more than 3,600 scans, including images from patients with dementia and people without cognitive impairment.
This innovation addresses a core challenge in dementia care: identifying the disease early and precisely, even when multiple conditions are present. As new treatments emerge, timely diagnosis helps match patients with the most appropriate care when it can have the greatest impact. The tool could bring advanced diagnostic support to clinics that lack neurology expertise.
The rising toll of dementia
Dementia affects more than 55 million people worldwide, with nearly 10 million new cases each year. Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form, is now the fifth-leading cause of death globally. Diagnosing dementia typically requires cognitive tests, blood draws, imaging, clinical interviews and specialist referrals. Even with extensive testing, distinguishing conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Lewy body dementia and frontotemporal dementia remains challenging, including for highly experienced specialists.
StateViewer was developed under the direction of David Jones, M.D., a Mayo Clinic neurologist and director of the Mayo Clinic Neurology Artificial Intelligence Program.
“Every patient who walks into my clinic carries a unique story shaped by the brain’s complexity,” Dr. Jones says. “That complexity drew me to neurology and continues to drive my commitment to clearer answers. StateViewer reflects that commitment — a step toward earlier understanding, more precise treatment and, one day, changing the course of these diseases.”
To bring that vision to life, Dr. Jones worked alongside Leland Barnard, Ph.D., a data scientist who leads the AI engineering behind StateViewer.
“As we were designing StateViewer, we never lost sight of the fact that behind every data point and brain scan was a person facing a difficult diagnosis and urgent questions,” Dr. Barnard says. “Seeing how this tool could assist physicians with real-time, precise insights and guidance highlights the potential of machine learning for clinical medicine.”
Turning brain patterns into clinical insight
The tool analyzes a fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scan, which shows how the brain uses glucose for energy. It then compares the scan to a large database of scans from people with confirmed dementia diagnoses and identifies patterns that match specific types, or combinations, of dementia.
Alzheimer’s typically affects memory and processing regions, Lewy body dementia involves areas tied to attention and movement, and frontotemporal dementia alters regions responsible for language and behavior. StateViewer displays these patterns through color-coded brain maps that highlight key areas of brain activity, giving all clinicians, even those without neurology training, a visual explanation of what the AI sees and how it supports the diagnosis.
Mayo Clinic researchers plan to expand the tool’s use and will continue evaluating its performance in a variety of clinical settings.
For a complete list of authors, disclosures and funding, review the study.
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About Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.
