Health has always been and will be the most important value for every person. But if earlier preference was given only to the physical state of the organism, then in recent years there has been a trend towards preservation and emotional well-being, which formed a holistic approach to health and its management system. This made it possible to move from “medicine of diseases” to “health medicine”. How can high tech not only help in the treatment of diseases, but also prevent their emergence and further development? Let’s take a look at the trends that determine the medicine of the future.
Finding new biomarkers for disease detection on early stages
Biomarkers are key to solving many problems. They help predict occurrence of diseases at the earliest stage, predict their further development and build therapy taking into account individual features of the organism.
For example, scientists verified the oncomarker survivin, which allows detecting cancer at an early stage. Diagnose of heart damage, even in people without myocardial infarction, detection of vascular damage or the presence of atherosclerosis can be through ultrasensitive troponin I. The search for new biomarkers continues – and it is really an important area of development of preventive medicine.
Mental well-being
In a state of increased stress that people are increasingly facing recently, it is extremely important to maintain a resource state. It is it that gives the opportunity to live fully, cope with anxiety and continue to function productively.
It is extremely difficult to return to a resource state on your own, since we are talking about many factors, from restoring sleep to working with mental sphere and building healthy relations with community. But there are special health treatments that help to achieve a balance of all body systems in the shortest possible time.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI in medicine is showing more and more effectiveness. After all, it does not help just to automate processes and assist the doctor in making decisions, but it also increases the speed and accuracy of diagnoses and participates in the creation of medicines. So, for example, in breast cancer, AI allows 30 times faster to view mammograms with precision up to 99% (X-rays breast), reducing the need for biopsies.
Gamification
The principle of gamification makes it possible to increase significantly human motivation, which means improving treatment outcomes, especially concerning children. In 2020 the first video game appeared, which was approved as prescription treatment. It is recommended for children from 8 to 12 years with a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Clinical studies have shown an increase in the ability to concentrate the attention just after 2 months in 68% of cases.
On the “First Line,” gamification of physical activity is used effectively as an adjunct to neurofitness, breathing gymnastics, aquatic training and Nordic walking near the Gulf of Finland to achieve states of mental well-being of guests.
Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality
VR and AR are absolute trends of our time. No wonder they found its use in medicine. Virtual reality is used actively in surgery, dentistry and ophthalmology, as well as to relieve pain syndromes with virtual-real hypnosis. Another of the most common methods of their application is the study of anatomy by medical students.
But progress does not stand still, more and more areas of VR use and AR as wellness tools appear. At “First Line” this trend has found its continuation this summer: a mental well-being room opened at the resort an innovative space of contactless therapy. Inside room exposure occurs to all senses combined with multimedia art. A person is immersed in a meditative state, which allows you to achieve internal balance, reduce anxiety, stress and create new neural connections to achieve maximum results in all spheres of life.
3D printing of drugs, tissues, and organs
For the first time, 3D printing began to be used in dentistry for manufacturing of dental implants. Since then, the use of the method has expanded significantly for the creation of tissues and organs, prostheses and implants, surgical instruments or anatomical models.
The introduction of 3D printing in pharmaceuticals is also interesting. The first drug, made in a similar way, became a cure for epilepsy. Due to special technology drug dissolves much faster than conventional tablets, and only a small sip of water is enough to take. Also experts continue to experiment with 3D printing of drugs of unusual forms (dinosaurs or octopuses) to make it easier for children to take pills.
Robotic assistants in operations, disinfection, distribution of medicines
Robots have long ceased to be only characters in science fiction films.
Robotics is actively developing in medicine. Today there are robotic disinfectants and robotic nurses, exoskeletons and robotic prostheses.
There is even a robot surgeon that allows to perform operations with maximum precision and minimal cuts, or a robot helper capable of carrying many racks, trolleys or containers weighing up to 453 kg.
Another innovation in this area is a robot that is used in nursing homes for the elderly and hospitals with people in need of care. He can lift and move patients in bed, help them to stand and turn many times to prevent bed sores.
Microbiome modification
The microbiome is the collective name for all the microorganisms that exist in the human body. Its condition is the most important factor of human health.
Modification of the microbiome allows you to influence the state of the body. One of the most popular ways is exposure by adjustment of diets, nutraceuticals, and probiotics. The latter are often used for preventive purposes, as well as for restorative therapy.
Mentoring/Mentoring
Mentoring is one of the popular trends now, but it is used more often in professional areas or training. Mentor helps his ward to achieve results, supports and encourages him on the way to the goal.
The doctors of our resort also brought mentoring to life as an approach to the most effective communication with the guest to create internal motivation for changes and long-term commitment to the developed wellness strategy. Thanks to this method, guests have excellent results, because the mentor is not only an expert in the field of medicine, which makes up a personalized program, but also a reliable partner, which helps the guest reach his or her inner potential and inspires him or her for lifestyle changes.
Digital Assistants
In the era of gadgets, technology has not bypassed medicine. There is now a big number of different services that can remind you of the need to drink water, count calories or steps, monitor weight and nutrition. These are the simplest applications with minimal functionality, but there are also those that allow you to monitor health comprehensively and maintain a healthy lifestyle. They make it possible to track the history of analyzes and recommendations, see the schedule of personal procedures, receive advice in real-time and even conduct online consultations with doctors.
Such services are extremely useful and effective and receive many positive reviews – without this, the future of medicine is no longer possible at present. At “First Line” we also launched our own mobile application whose task is to become a full-fledged digital assistant for maintaining a healthy human lifestyle. The application allows you to select and book independently a wellness program; to receive useful wellness tips to help improve physical health and mental well-being; to see the personal schedule of all procedures; to keep and track the history of analyses and recommendations that will be supplemented when returning to the resort.
The world of modern technology is changing daily. And it is very valuable that many innovations find their application in medicine, thereby developing a preventive approach. After all, all areas of a person’s life depend on his health.
It is important to conduct a regular check-up of the body, to help it cope with stress, maintain the nervous system and follow your own wellness strategies. Living up to 120 years is possible today.
By Anna Ratnikova, chief physician of the prevent age resort “First Line”