More to come?
The possibilities of AI in analyzing retinal images are vast.
New research shows that AI may be able to detect Alzheimer’s disease or predict a person’s risk for heart attack and stroke based on snapshots of the retina.
The retina may also shed light on kidney disease, control of blood glucose and blood pressure, hepatobiliary disease, and coronary artery calcium, according to Eric J. Topol, MD, director of Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, Calif.
Beyond retinas, interpretation of electrocardiograms (ECGs) may be another frontier for AI in primary care. In one trial, an AI-enhanced ECG reading facilitated early diagnosis of low ejection fraction, and some doctors now receive these reports routinely, Dr. Topol wrote.
The potential value of AI in medicine “extends to virtually all forms of medical images that have been assessed to date,” Dr. Topol wrote on his “Ground Truths” Substack.
Although much of the focus has been on what AI can see, researchers also are exploring what AI can do with what it hears. Early research suggests that algorithms may be able to diagnose disease by analyzing patients’ voices.
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.