Recently, a study published in the journal "Cell Metabolism" revealed that researchers, using thermal imaging cameras and artificial intelligence technology, can detect various chronic diseases and assess an individual's physiological age by analyzing facial temperature. This innovative method offers new possibilities for early disease diagnosis and health monitoring.
- The temperature of different areas on the face is associated with various chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension.
- A lower nose temperature indicates a milder degree of thermal aging; while a higher cheek temperature may suggest elevated blood pressure.
- Increased temperature around the eyes may be related to metabolic disorders such as diabetes and fatty liver disease.
The research team analyzed facial temperature data from over 2,800 Chinese participants aged 21 to 88, using this information to train an AI model to predict an individual's "thermal age." They identified several key facial areas, such as the nose, eyes, and cheeks, where temperature is significantly correlated with age and health status.
Professor Jing-Dong Jackie Han of Peking University stated, "Our tool has the potential to promote healthy aging and help people stay away from diseases."
The study also found that regular exercise can reduce an individual's thermal age. In an experiment, 23 participants jumped rope at least 800 times a day for two weeks, resulting in an average reduction of their thermal age by 5 years.
The research team plans to further explore the application of thermal facial imaging in predicting other diseases, such as sleep disorders or cardiovascular diseases. Professor Han emphasized, "We hope to apply thermal facial imaging in clinical settings, as it holds great potential for early disease diagnosis and intervention."
This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation and the Ministry of Science and Technology, opening new avenues for health monitoring and disease prevention.