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Stream/Area:
-
Subject:
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Paper ID:
IJSREM63268
Volume:
10 |
5 |
May 2026
Pages:
1-10
Publication Frequency:
Monthly (12 issues per year)
License:International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management follows the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) License, allowing free use and distribution with proper attribution.
Department of Computer Engineering
Samarth College of Engineering & Management, Pune, India
Department of Computer Engineering
Samarth College of Engineering & Management, Pune, India
The adoption of Deep Learning (DL) models in medical diagnostics is frequently constrained by their ``black-box'' behavior, which limits clinical trust and interpretability. This study proposes an Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI)-integrated framework for interpretable 3D MRI-based Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) classification, aiming to bridge the gap between predictive performance and clinical transparency. The proposed framework employs a 3D-ResNet-50 architecture to learn volumetric spatial representations from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset, comprising three diagnostic categories: Normal Control (NC), Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). To improve interpretability, a Dual-XAI strategy is incorporated. Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mappinsg (Grad-CAM) is utilized to generate local visual explanations highlighting disease-relevant brain regions, while Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) provide global feature attribution for clinically significant biomarkers. Experimental observations demonstrate that Grad-CAM heatmaps consistently focus on neurologically relevant regions, including the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex, which are strongly associated with early-stage neurodegeneration in AD. In addition, SHAP-based analysis provides interpretable insights into feature contributions influencing model predictions. The framework also aligns with emerging regulatory requirements, including the European Union AI Act and its emphasis on explainability and accountable AI-driven clinical decision-making. By combining high-performance 3D neuroimaging analysis with interpretable AI mechanisms, the proposed framework enhances clinician trust, diagnostic reliability, and the practical applicability of AI-assisted early Alzheimer’s detection in high-stakes healthcare environments.
KEYWORDS
The development of explainable diagnostic systems marks a critical evolution in the fight against Alzheimer’s Disease. By moving beyond "black-box" models, this research demonstrates that high-performance 3D Deep Learning can coexist with clinical transparency. The proposed framework successfully bridges the trust gap by providing neurologists with visual saliency maps and quantitative feature attributions that align with established biological pathology. Furthermore, the integration of post-hoc interpretability techniques like Grad-CAM and SHAP ensures that AI systems satisfy the stringent regulatory requirements of 2026, specifically the "Right to Explanation". Ultimately, this study transitions AI from a binary classification tool into a collaborative diagnostic aid, fostering a healthcare environment where machine precision meets human-centric reasoning to improve patient outcomes.
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Publication Date
5/15/2026
Peer Review Type
Double-Blind Peer Review
Review Rounds: 2
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The authors declare no conflict of interest related to this research work.
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