Japan's Osaka Metropolitan University (OMU) has brought forth a groundbreaking study that suggests such appearances might be an indicator of undiscovered ailments. This technology takes a fresh perspective by focusing on precise age estimation.
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In this picture taken on March 22, 2022, Gautam Kamble, who is diagnosed with tuberculosis, holds chest x-rays during a routine consultation with a doctor at the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) clinic.
AI-Powered Chest X-ray
Japan's Osaka Metropolitan University (OMU) has revealed a groundbreaking study that connects how people look with potential hidden health problems. Interesting Engineering reported that OMU's research team has created a smart AI system that accurately estimates a person's age by analyzing chest X-rays.
This breakthrough doesn't just crack the code on reading X-rays differently, it offers a fresh way to catch health concerns early. Researchers believe this novel AI model could play a pivotal role in promptly identifying chronic disorders, a crucial step toward more effective treatment.
Detecting Diseases Earlier
Researchers believe this novel AI model could play a pivotal role in promptly identifying chronic disorders, EurekAlert! reported that a crucial step toward more effective treatment. Yasuhito Mitsuyama, a graduate student at Osaka Metropolitan University (OMU) and one of the study authors, emphasized the critical role of age in medicine.
Mitsuyama shared his insights, stating that their findings have illuminated an intriguing connection between age and health, a connection that reaches beyond the constraints of mere numbers on a calendar. He went on to explain that the clues hidden within chest X-rays could potentially unlock a treasure trove of information about a person's health status.
In Mitsuyama's eyes, this breakthrough was more than just an academic achievement. It had the potential to reshape the landscape of healthcare, ushering in a new era of early detection for chronic conditions. He couldn't help but envision a world where medical interventions were not only more effective but also delivered at the right time-when they mattered most.
Conducting Tests
Researchers used a ton of data-67,099 chest X-rays from healthy people taken between 2008 and 2021. The AI they created could figure out how old people were from these X-rays. When they checked how well it worked, they found that the AI's guesses matched the real ages of patients very closely.
Then, they tested the AI on 34,197 more X-rays from people who were not so healthy. These X-rays came from two medical centers and showed known medical problems. It was like a new chapter in their adventure, exploring how the AI could spot health issues from X-rays.
As the AI model computed ages from these X-rays, Mitsuyama and his team made an unexpected discovery: a clear link between the age estimated by the AI and the likelihood of chronic health issues.
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Intriguingly, they found that when the AI predicted an age greater than the person's actual age, it often coincided with the presence of health problems like high blood pressure or chronic lung disorders, such as chronic bronchitis, within the same individual.
With aspirations for continued research and refinement, the team envisions broader applications for their AI model. These future prospects are outlined in their study published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity journal.
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