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Down's Syndrome and other genetic disorders can be diagnosed by photography
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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A group of specialists from the United States has developed new software that will allow people to have a chance to identify various genetic abnormalities and recognize hidden hereditary diseases, including mental and physical retardation.
The new program is able to identify the disease by external manifestations, which can not be seen with the naked eye. The new development is reminiscent of the program used in the Facebook social network to establish identity.
Usually people with Down's syndrome or Aperta stand out among others. However, when the disease at the initial stage, proceeds in a lighter form or does not lead to significant external changes, it is almost impossible to notice the disease.
A new program when scanning an image starts a special analysis, and is able to notice even what the experienced specialist does not see. Now the program diagnoses the following genetic abnormalities: Engelman's syndromes, Tricher Collins, Cornelia de Lange, Williams, Apert, Down.
In addition, the program is able to diagnose the rarest genetic disorder - pregeria (premature aging), which is recorded in only 80 people in the world.
It is worth noting that most of the diseases diagnosed by the new program lead to significant changes in appearance.
For example, Cornelia da Lange syndrome causes a decrease in the volume of the skull, short nose, fused eyebrows and strabismus, Tricer Collins syndrome changes the proportions of the face (different eye level, tiny chin, etc.).
However, not always the disease can be seen with the naked eye. Some diseases start to progress only after the child reaches 2-3 years old, others become aggravated after 30 years.
The new program can analyze a photo of relatives to recognize the "wrong" gene, which can provoke the disease, and the program also works with children's photos.
Doctors from Oxford suggest that this prediction of genetic abnormalities will allow timely detection of the disease and begin preventive therapy, such as in the case of Aperta syndrome, when the coronary sutures of the skull fuse and increase pressure on the brain, which leads to a decrease in intelligence. In this case, if you identify the disease at an early stage and prevent the growth of sutures, you can keep the child's intellectual abilities.
British scientists noted that every seventeenth inhabitant of the planet can have genetic deviations. Symptoms of genetic diseases that significantly affect a person's life appear in every third patient. Most people live a normal life, while not suspecting the possible risks that their genes carry in themselves. Part of the disease begins to develop in old age, while others are manifested in children or grandchildren.
When introducing new computer technology into medical practice, the patient can simply send his photo taken on the smartphone to the treating doctor.
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