2023-10-30 17:27:25
Scientific advances in medicine are booming. From the rediscovery of the body’s “forgotten organ” to potential cures for cancer, Alzheimer’s and HIV on the horizon, we are entering a bold new era of medicine.
Historically, medicine has experienced defining moments that have revolutionized healthcare and saved countless lives. From Edward Jenner’s inoculation once morest smallpox in 1796 to the advent of anesthesia in the 1840s, germ theory in the 1860s, and medical imaging in the 1890s, each of these milestones has marked a leap forward in humanity’s ability to confront and overcome diseases.
But will the 2020s be remembered as an equally pivotal moment in the history of medicine? According to Bertalan Mesko, doctor and director of the Futuristic Medical Institute in Budapest, the world is on the verge of a new “golden age” of medicine, and COVID-19 has played a fundamental role in this evolution.
“Advances in mRNA technology applied for the first time in COVID vaccines might soon help eradicate certain types of cancer,” explains Mesko. Additionally, he mentions the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and 3D printing, as well as advances in genomics that will unlock the genetic basis of many diseases, leading to new, more specific treatments.
In short, we are seeing a pace of progress not seen in a century.
While AI is often perceived as a threat to jobs in sectors such as law and finance, its potential in medicine is promising, according to Chris Stokel-Walker, a writer specializing in medical applications of AI for the British Medical Journal.
“AI will accelerate the pace of discovery of new drugs, including much-needed antibiotics at a time when resistance to them is on the rise,” highlights Stokel-Walker. Additionally, this technology can analyze and detect problems such as tumors in scanners more effectively than humans.
AI will also significantly reduce the daily administrative burden on doctors when it comes to documenting, prescribing and detecting common diseases. This will free up valuable time for doctors to focus on the core of their job: helping patients.
A side effect of medical advances since the late 19th century has been an increase in human life expectancy. However, the new golden age of medicine will address one drawback of these advances: that a longer life does not always mean a healthier life.
In the coming years, advances are expected in the treatment of diseases related to aging, such as a “genetic silencing” treatment for Alzheimer’s, along with wearable diagnostics that will provide early warnings of metabolic diseases, stroke, heart disease and seizures, reducing disability and improving patient outcomes.
Additionally, we can anticipate revolutionary stem cell therapies for infertility and treatments targeting the body’s “forgotten organ,” the microbiome, which is increasingly implicated in aspects ranging from mood to immune system and heart health. .
“It’s an incredible moment, and I feel lucky to experience it,” Mesko concludes. We are on the brink of an era in which medicine will transform people’s health and lives in ways never before imagined. Medicine, in its new “golden age,” promises to provide innovative solutions to long-standing medical challenges, opening up a brighter, healthier future for humanity.
As we enter a new golden age of medicine, seven scientific and medical advances are emerging as protagonists of a revolution in healthcare.
Break Alzheimer’s: Alzheimer’s disease, a condition that affects millions of people around the world, is in the crosshairs of a revolutionary treatment called ALN-APP. This drug, which uses RNAi to reduce the production of toxic proteins in the brain, might offer a ray of hope to stop this devastating disease.
Harness the microbiome: Our microbiome, that community of microorganisms in our body, has emerged as a powerful ally in the fight once morest various diseases. Microbiome therapies are already being used to treat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections and, most impressively, to improve neurobehavioral symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder.
Defeat malaria: Malaria has long been a lethal enemy, especially for children. However, a vaccine in phase three trials, which teaches the immune system to fight the malaria parasite, might change history. With 75% efficacy in phase two trials, this vaccine promises to save countless lives in affected regions.
Beat cancer with vaccines: mRNA vaccines, first used in the COVID-19 pandemic, are opening the door to a “universal vaccine” for various flu strains and personalized treatments for cancer. These vaccines can train the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells, and clinical trials are already showing promising results.
3D printing of body parts: 3D printing technology is being used successfully in orthopedics to create custom knee and hip replacements. This promises to improve outcomes and reduce risks associated with standard implants, as well as pave the way for future advances in printing bone tissue and other organs.
Hack defective genes: Crispr-Cas9 gene editing technology is opening up new possibilities for treating inherited diseases, such as sickle cell anemia and cystic fibrosis. It also offers hope of developing treatments for heart disease and HIV, which might bring us closer to the goal of ending the HIV pandemic by 2030.
Revolutionizing fertility with stem cells: Germline stem cell research offers hope for those struggling to start a family. By correcting genetic defects in stem cells, treatments are being developed for genetic diseases, as well as to improve the success rate of IVF by creating healthier embryos and ovarian follicles.
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In Positive
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