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Emerging Applications of Machine Learning and AI for Predictive Modeling in Precision Medicine
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Closed
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This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG3, SDG9 and SDG10.
Video Analysis and Pose Estimation
Video analysis, paired with pose estimation techniques, has become a vital tool in understanding human movement and biomechanics. These technologies use computer vision and machine learning algorithms to capture and analyze body motion, aiding in early detection of musculoskeletal disorders, neurological conditions, and rehabilitation progress. By identifying patterns of movement deviations, healthcare providers can diagnose conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or arthritis more accurately, leading to customized treatment plans.
Signal Analysis for Individual Prediction
Signal analysis, leveraging data from physiological signals like heart rate, electrocardiograms (ECG), electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG) enhances the precision of individual health predictions. Advanced algorithms process these signals to detect anomalies, predict disease onset, and assess responses to treatment. Signal analysis is particularly impactful in cardiovascular health, neurological and neuropsychiatry where real-time monitoring and prediction can save lives.
Wearables, Biomarkers, and Digital Health Records
Wearable devices, coupled with biomarkers and digital health records, enable continuous monitoring and proactive prevention of diseases. Wearables such as smartwatches and fitness trackers provide real-time data on metrics like blood oxygen levels, heart rate variability, and sleep patterns. Biomarkers—measurable biological indicators—enhance early detection of diseases such as diabetes, cancer, or autoimmune disorders. When integrated with digital health records, these tools offer a comprehensive view of patient health, empowering clinicians to make informed decisions. This ecosystem supports preventive care, reduces hospital admissions, and facilitates long-term health management.
Applications and Future Directions
Collectively, these technologies mark a shift towards personalized, predictive, and participatory healthcare. By leveraging multimodal data—from video analysis to wearables—clinicians can predict health outcomes with unprecedented accuracy, tailor interventions to individual needs, and proactively manage chronic diseases. The integration of AI-driven insights into everyday healthcare practices holds the potential to reduce costs, improve accessibility, and enhance overall patient outcomes.
As these fields continue to evolve, ethical considerations, data privacy, and equitable access remain key challenges. Addressing these issues will ensure that the benefits of digital health and precision medicine reach a broader population, fostering a healthier future for all.
Silent brain infarctions (SBIs), affecting 20% of adults and increasing stroke risk, evade routine MRI screening. While retinal scans offer a “window to the brain,” prior AI failed to simultaneously detect SBIs and predict strokes. DeepRETStroke overcomes this by analysing eye scans. Trained on ~900,000 images, it uses deep learning combining self-supervised pattern recognition from unlabeled images, semi-supervised SBI detection with limited MRI, and knowledge transfer refinement, transforming eye exams into affordable stroke screenings.
The integration of physics-based digital twins with data-driven artificial intelligence—termed “Big AI”—can advance truly personalised medicine. While digital twins offer individual ‘healthcasts,’ accuracy and interpretability, and AI delivers speed and flexibility, each has limitations. Big AI combines their strengths, enabling faster, more reliable and individualised predictions, with applications from diagnostics to drug discovery. Above all, Big AI restores mechanistic insights to AI and complies with the scientific method.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has primarily enhanced individual primary care visits, yet its potential for population health management remains untapped. Effective AI should integrate longitudinal patient data, automate proactive outreach, and mitigate disparities by addressing barriers such as transportation and language. Properly deployed, AI can significantly reduce administrative burden, facilitate early intervention, and improve equity in primary care, necessitating rigorous evaluation and adaptive design to realize sustained population-level benefits.