In studies posted within the Lancet digital health, scientists at Mass widespread Brigham advanced an AI device referred to as FaceAge that estimates someone’s biological age, a marker of the way their body is growing old, with the aid of reading facial capabilities from an easy picture. The study found that cancer sufferers whose faces seemed biologically older than their real age tended to have poorer effects after remedy, whilst people with younger-looking estimates regularly fared better.

This AI-pushed method ought to provide a quick, less expensive opportunity to conventional biological age tests, which rely on blood or saliva exams to come across cellular and molecular symptoms of getting older. In line with professionals, which includes Harvard’s William Mair (now not worried in the take a look at), the potential programs in scientific settings are “tremendous.

”The have a look at determined that cancer sufferers, on average, regarded 5 years older biologically than their chronological age. In evaluation, individuals without most cancers had facial age estimates that intently matched their actual age. Moreover, sufferers assessed via the AI as biologically older were more likely to die from most cancers or other causes.

Previous research has also linked older-searching faces to better mortality. A Danish twin have a look at, for example, determined that the twin who regarded older generally died earlier.Dr. Raymond H. Mak, a radiation oncologist at Mass trendy Brigham and one of the take a look at’s authors, stated that in the destiny, equipment like FaceAge should help doctors tailor remedy plans based totally on a affected person’s organic age rather than just their chronological one. The AI considers diffused functions consisting of muscle loss (obvious in hollowed temples) and changes around the mouth that may match overlooked by way of the human eye.

The researchers goal to refine and ultimately commercialize the tool for use in clinical settings and plan to file for a patent as soon as development is in addition along.But, the present day model of FaceAge has obstacles. It was in most cases trained on photographs of white individuals, which can affect its accuracy throughout one of a kind skin tones and ethnicities.

Moreover, variables like lighting fixtures, facial attitude, makeup, or cosmetic tactics might impact consequences. And whilst organic growing old can be elevated by using factors like pressure, smoking, alcohol use, being pregnant, or extreme warmness, some of which are reversible, it’s uncertain if FaceAge can hit upon upgrades over time.Ethicists have raised issues approximately equity and ability misuse.

Jennifer E. Miller, co-director of Yale university’s software in biomedical ethics, warned that such gear need to be scrutinized to ensure they paintings equitably across populations, together with older adults, minorities, girls, and people with disabilities or being pregnant. There is additionally challenge over whether such exams may want to in the future be used to disclaim medical care or coverage coverage.

Dr. Mak acknowledged those issues, emphasizing that FaceAge is meant to help, not replace, scientific judgment. “We’re honestly concerned approximately capacity misuse of technology,” he stated, “but we agree with the device can do greater exact than damage if used responsibly.”

Sources https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/new-ai-tool-can-use-selfies-to-predict-how-long-a-cancer-patient-will-live/articleshow/121312808.cms

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/ai-tool-uses-selfies-to-predict-biological-age-and-cancer-survival/article69556315.ece