New AI technology, developed by pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, can detect early signs of more than 1,000 diseases long before symptoms appear.
The computer algorithm, named MILTON, analyses patient test results to predict disease diagnoses with high confidence years in advance.
Key Takeaways
- AI tool MILTON can detect early signs of over 1,000 diseases.
- Developed by AstraZeneca, it uses data from the UK Biobank.
- MILTON analyses 67 routine clinical biomarkers and 3,000 proteins.
- Predictive performance rated as "exceptional" for 121 diseases.
- Ethical concerns raised about potential misuse by insurers and employers.
How MILTON Works
MILTON analyses patient test results commonly collected by GPs to detect patterns in the data. It uses data from 500,000 people who are part of the UK Biobank, a vast repository of health information. The AI tool examines 67 routine clinical biomarkers, including blood and urine tests, blood pressure, respiratory performance, weight, age, and sex. Additionally, it analyses data from 50,000 Biobank volunteers on 3,000 proteins found in blood plasma.
Predictive Performance
The AI tool was able to detect subtle patterns in the data that would have been invisible to the human eye. Its predictive performance was rated as "exceptional" for 121 diseases and "highly predictive" for another 1,091. The study, published in the journal Nature Genetics, highlights that adding the analysis of 3,000 proteins significantly increased MILTON's power to flag patients at risk.
Potential Benefits
The development of MILTON opens up the possibility of intervening much earlier in the disease process. Dr Slave Petrovski, who led the research, emphasised the opportunity to combine lifestyle changes with pharmaceutical interventions to optimise health benefits. Early intervention could help manage diseases to ensure they do not progress to more severe stages.
Ethical Concerns
Despite its promising capabilities, experts have raised ethical concerns regarding MILTON's use. Professor Dusko Ilic of King's College London warned that the tool's powerful predictive abilities could be misused by health insurance companies or employers to assess individuals without their knowledge or consent. This could lead to discrimination and breaches of privacy. Strict guidelines and oversight will be critical to ensuring MILTON's benefits are realised ethically and responsibly.
Future Prospects
AstraZeneca stresses that MILTON is currently a research tool, and more work is needed before it can be used clinically by doctors. However, the findings have the potential to accelerate the development of more effective and targeted treatments. The data is also being made freely available to other researchers, who could develop diagnostic tests that allow early preventative treatment to stop diseases in their tracks.
Conclusion
The AI tool MILTON represents a significant advancement in the early detection of diseases. While its predictive power offers immense potential for early intervention and personalised treatments, ethical considerations must be addressed to prevent misuse. With further research and development, MILTON could revolutionise healthcare by enabling earlier and more accurate disease diagnosis.
Sources
- AI technology can detect early signs of over 1,000 diseases, say researchers | Science & Tech News | Sky News, Sky News.
- AI technology can detect early signs of over 1,000 diseases, say researchers - Gaydio, Gaydio.
- AI technology can detect early signs of over 1,000 diseases, say researchers - Q Radio, Q Radio.
- AI technology can detect early signs of over 1,000 diseases, say researchers, Yahoo News UK.
- AI technology can detect early signs of over 1,000 diseases, say researchers - This is the Coast, This is the Coast.
