AI Tool 'FaceAge' Revolutionizes Cancer Prognosis with Facial Analysis

Researchers have unveiled 'FaceAge,' an AI-driven model that predicts a cancer patient's biological age through facial recognition. This tool enhances survival predictions and informs treatment plans, particularly in palliative care. Although promising, further research is required for its real-world application.

An innovative AI-powered tool named 'FaceAge' has been developed by researchers to predict the biological age of cancer patients using facial recognition technology. This breakthrough model, detailed in The Lancet Digital Health, revealed that cancer patients often appear approximately five years older than their chronological age.

The study showed that these patients face poorer survival outcomes across several cancer types. Hugo Aerts, a co-senior author of the study, highlighted the potential of a simple selfie in providing critical information for clinical decisions. Moreover, individuals with FaceAges younger than their chronological age showed better survival rates post-cancer therapy.

The AI model has been validated on nearly 59,000 photos from healthy individuals and tested on about 6,200 cancer patients. Photographs from the beginning of radiotherapy treatments were employed for testing. Clinicians improved their life expectancy predictions for patients receiving palliative care when assisted by 'FaceAge,' showing its utility in clinical settings, though more research is needed for its widespread adoption.

(With inputs from agencies.)