AI Tool Detects 1,000 Diseases Early for Better Health Outcomes

New research highlighted by Sky News reveals an artificial intelligence tool called MILTON, developed by AstraZeneca, that can detect early signs of over 1,000 diseases long before symptoms appear. This AI analyzes patient test results collected by general practitioners (GPs) to find patterns in the data, predicting diseases such as COPD and dementia years in advance.

How It Works

MILTON uses data from 500,000 individuals in the UK Biobank, analyzing 67 routine clinical biomarkers like blood and urine test results, blood pressure, respiratory performance, weight, age, and sex. Additionally, it examines data from 50,000 volunteers on 3,000 proteins in blood plasma, which are crucial for various body functions. By detecting subtle patterns invisible to the human eye, MILTON can link these patterns to diseases diagnosed up to a decade later.

Benefits

The AI tool’s predictive performance is rated “exceptional” for 121 diseases and “highly predictive” for another 1,091. This opens up the possibility of earlier intervention, more personalized treatments, and potentially lower healthcare costs. AstraZeneca is also making the data freely available to other researchers, which could lead to the development of diagnostic tests for early preventative treatments.

Concerns

Despite its potential, there are concerns about MILTON’s ethical use. Professor Dusko Ilic from King’s College London warns that the tool’s predictive abilities could be misused by health insurance companies or employers, leading to discrimination and privacy breaches. Strict guidelines and oversight will be essential to ensure ethical and responsible use.

Possible Business Use Cases

• Develop a startup offering personalized health monitoring services using MILTON’s predictive capabilities to help individuals manage their health proactively.
• Create a platform for healthcare providers to integrate MILTON’s predictions into their routine check-ups, enhancing early disease detection and treatment plans.
• Launch a biotech firm focused on developing new diagnostic tests and preventative treatments based on MILTON’s data and insights.

As we look to the future, how can we balance the benefits of early disease detection with the need to protect individual privacy and prevent misuse of predictive health data?