Can AI solve India’s dementia crisis? Bengaluru IISc launches Rs 2 crore challenge to track brain aging

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2 min readBengaluruUpdated: Apr 25, 2026 05:25 PM ISTThe Indian Institute of Science's Centre for Brain Research in Bengaluru has launched an 'AI Challenge for Healthy Brain Aging' to help track the causes of various issues, such as dementia.The Indian Institute of Science’s Centre for Brain Research in Bengaluru has launched an ‘AI Challenge for Healthy Brain Aging’ to help track the causes of various issues, such as dementia.With Indians being underrepresented in global studies on brain aging, the competition calls for AI tools and models that can aid in research for diseases like dementia and Alzheimers – by predicting the development of mild dementia, etc.Participants in teams of up to five (from Indian institutions only) can use several datasets to help create their tools, such as the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, UK Biobank, and many others. They will also retain intellectual property rights for their creations, though they may have to provide a usage licence to the Centre.Judging will be done through a process involving a “multidisciplinary team of experts from the Centre for Brain Research (CBR), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Microsoft Research Lab India (MSR)”.Submissions, which began on April 20, will close on May 20. The various stages of the competition will culminate in the Finalist Pitch in February next year.The award will include prize money and grants valued up to Rs 2 crore.This is the second such recent major initiative in Bengaluru dealing with large databases of information aimed at tackling brain disorders.Story continues below this adIn March, a digital repository of brain information known as CALM-Brain was launched at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (Nimhans) by researchers at the Rohini Nilekani Centre for Brain and Mind.The various forms of information stored in this database are used in neuropsychiatric disease research, targeting issues like disease onset and progression, and changes that lead to disease symptoms.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdAdvertisementLoading Recommendations...Apr 25: Latest News01Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal fire RCB to five-wicket win over GT in Chinnaswamy farewell02Trump dispatches Witkoff, Kushner to Pakistan for new talks with Iran’s foreign minister, JD Vance won’t attend: White House03Why even paid seats aren’t guaranteed: The lesson one passenger learned on a Pune-Bengaluru flight04Midnight matches, money parked in cricket: Why Indian broadcasters are shying away from FIFA World Cup05UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Economy MCQs on PM SVANidhi scheme, Coffee in India and more (Week 159)Live BlogDC vs PBKS LIVE Score, IPL 2026: KL Rahul hits highest score by an Indian in IPL; Delhi Capitals set 265-run target10 seconds agoIPL 2026 RR vs SRH Live Score, Playing 11 Updates: Can Rajasthan Royals avenge first leg loss against in-form Sunrisers Hyderabad?2 minutes agoUS Iran War News Live Updates: Abbas Araghchi conveys Iran’s demands, reservations on US proposals, says report3 minutes agoUbse.uk.gov.in, UK Board Result 2026 Live Updates: Results out at uaresults.nic.in, meet toppers4 minutes agoNEET Admit Card 2026 Live Updates: When and where to download UG admit card, once released?4 minutes ago