A Study Uncovers: Selfies May Unveil Predictors for Cancer Survival Rates
Gaze at Your Selfie, Know Your Cancer Risk: AI Offers a Fresh Look
Artificial intelligence (AI) has taken a turn for the unexpected. Now, analyze your selfie and predict your cancer survival odds, claims a new study in the journal Lancet Digital Health. This breakthrough comes courtesy of a tool called FaceAge, developed by a team at Mass General Brigham, a renowned research group in the US.
FaceAge determines an individual's "biological age," a crucial factor in cancer survival prediction. To fine-tune FaceAge, researchers trained it on 59,000 photos. They argue that a person's biological age, not their years on earth, is a more accurate indication of their overall health and life expectancy.
In the study, FaceAge was put to the test on 6,200 patients with cancer, using images taken at the start of their treatment. The researchers noted that the biological age of these patients, on average, was five years older than their actual age.
Dr Hugo Aerts, corresponding author of the paper, is optimistic about the implications: "Our study now has shown for the first time that AI can turn a selfie into a real biomarker source of aging. The impact could be extensive, as we now have a simple, continuous way to assess a patient's health status."
A Closer Glimpse at Life Expectancy
This revolutionary tool could offer a more precise view of a patient's health status and life expectancy following treatments, reducing the guesswork and potentially leading to more tailored care approaches.
Interestingly, the researchers used the examples of actors Paul Rudd and Wilford Brimley when they both turned 50, to illustrate FaceAge's capabilities. Their photos suggested that Paul Rudd's age was a relatively young 42.6, while Wilford Brimley's biological age was a more aged 69[4].
The researchers acknowledge that more research is essential to broaden FaceAge's applications and to determine whether it can be used to analyze other conditions or diseases. As they point out, "Further research, including validation in larger cohorts, is needed to verify these findings in patients with cancer and to establish whether the findings extend to patients with other diseases."
Also Read | Miraculous Colon Cancer Recovery: A US Woman's Inspiring Story
The scientists' research hints at a broader potential for AI in healthcare. By analyzing subtle facial features in photographs, AI could pave the way for innovative diagnostics, prognostics, and personalized treatment strategies. The challenge lies in expanding the tool to cover various conditions requiring substantial data collection, validation, and careful consideration of potential biases for accurate predictions.
- The technologically advanced AI tool, FaceAge, developed by Mass General Brigham, can analyze selfies to predict an individual's cancer survival odds and biological age.
- In a significant study, FaceAge was used to determine the biological age of cancer patients, which was found to be, on average, five years older than their actual age.
- The researchers emphasized that a person's biological age, not their years on earth, is a more accurate indicator of overall health and life expectancy.
- This could lead to more tailored care approaches, offering a more precise view of a patient's health status and life expectancy following treatments.
- The potential applications of FaceAge extend beyond cancer, with the possibility of AI being used for innovative diagnostics, prognostics, and personalized treatment strategies for various medical conditions.
- However, further research is necessary to validate the findings, expand FaceAge's applications, and ensure accurate predictions for patients with different diseases and conditions, taking into account potential biases.
