A new artificial intelligence (AI) technology can diagnose more than a thousand diseases long before symptoms appear, according to a new study.
The computer algorithm, called Milton, examines the results of patient examinations and spots patterns in the data to confidently predict disease years later.
Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, which developed an artificial intelligence tool, says the tool will speed up the development of more effective and targeted treatments.
However, it also makes the data more readily available to other researchers, who can develop diagnostic tests to prevent disease so that treatment can be provided at an earlier stage.
For the research, AsterZineca used data from 500,000 individuals from the UK Biobank.
Milton analyzed the data for 67 routine clinical biomarkers (which included detailed blood and urine test results, blood pressure and respiratory function, along with factors such as weight, age and gender).
Milton also analyzed data from 50,000 Biobank volunteers for 3,000 proteins found in blood plasma. These proteins play an important role in many functions of the body (including the immune and hormonal systems).
