Multiple Classification of Brain MRI Autism Spectrum Disorder by Age and Gender Using Deep Learning

The fact that the rapid and definitive diagnosis of autism cannot be made today and that autism cannot be treated provides an impetus to look into novel technological solutions. To contribute to the resolution of this problem through multiple classifications by considering age and gender factors, in this study, two quadruple and one octal classifications were performed using a deep learning (DL) approach. Gender in one of the four classifications and age groups in the other were considered. In the octal classification, classes were created considering gender and age groups. In addition to the diagnosis of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders), another goal of this study is to find out the contribution of gender and age factors to the diagnosis of ASD by making multiple classifications based on age and gender for the first time. Brain structural MRI (sMRI) scans of participators with ASD and TD (Typical Development) were pre-processed in the system originally designed for this purpose. Using the Canny Edge Detection (CED) algorithm, the sMRI image data was cropped in the data pre-processing stage, and the data set was enlarged five times with the data augmentation (DA) techniques. The most optimal convolutional neural network (CNN) models were developed using the grid search optimization (GSO) algorism. The proposed DL prediction system was tested with the five-fold cross-validation technique. The accuracy rates acquired for all three CNN models designed to be utilized within the system were compared with successfull pre-trained CNN models through the transfer learning (TL) practice. As a result, it was revealed that age and gender factors were effective in the diagnosis of ASD with the system developed for ASD multiple classifications, and it was seen that higher accuracy rates were achieved than pre-trained models.