New AI tool could predict risk of chronic diseases before symptoms develop
May 12, 2025, 10:02 AM
(Canva)
(Canva)
SALT LAKE CITY — Researchers at the University of Utah have unveiled a new AI tool called RiskPath that could help predict progressive and chronic diseases before symptoms develop.
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According to Nina de Lacy, assistant professor of psychiatry, this tool uses data collected over a long period at different stages of a patient’s life to create models that show the patient’s level of risk.
“One of the things that could be done with RiskPath is that you could use it to build risk stratification tools that are in the (electronic health record), maybe even … to some extent automated, such that your doctor doesn’t have to keep asking you questions.”
Researchers found that the tool is around 88% to 95% accurate, while other tools are accurate only about half the time.
De Lacy said this could automatically alert doctors if someone is at risk.
“These are very interesting and important diseases to study because that long time period that hopefully gives us many opportunities to prevent, or reverse in some cases, or perhaps even stop the disease (from) developing.”
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