Diagnosis

Loss of sense of smell is being anecdotally reported around the world as an early symptom of COVID-19, but it's unclear how frequently it appears in mild or asymptomatic cases

Health & Wellbeing

An early COVID-19 symptom may be loss of smell, some doctors claim

Some medical experts around the world are suggesting a loss of the sense of smell may be an early indication of COVID-19. The preliminary, and still anecdotal, observation is not officially recognized as a COVID-19 symptom by the WHO at this stage.

A preliminary study suggests each type of cancer has its own unique microbial DNA signature that can be detected in blood samples

Science

Bacterial DNA signatures in blood point to new universal cancer test

A new study led by researchers from UC San Diego is suggesting unique microbial DNA signatures detected in blood samples can not only potentially identify dozens of different cancers but also catch the disease in its earliest stages.

A new predictive test for bladder cancer shows promise but still needs further verification in larger cohorts of patients

Medical

Urine test detects bladder cancer up to 10 years before clinical signs

A compelling new study from the International Agency for Research on Cancer is suggesting a simple biomarker in urine may be an effective test for bladder cancer, signaling the disease's presence up to 10 years before clinical signs appear.

The researchers suggest the new EEG diagnostic tool could be available to clinicians within five years

Medical

Simple EEG brain scan can tell if antidepressant drugs work for you

Following on from prior research finding brain wave patterns can signal whether antidepressant medication will be effective, a study is reporting the development of an algorithm that can predict patient response to antidepressants based on EEG data.

One in five breast cancers are not picked up by trained radiologists looking at mammograms, but AI can help improve this result

Medical

Google’s AI breast cancer system spots tumors human experts miss

A new AI system is proving more effective at detecting breast cancer in mammograms than trained radiologists. The software, developed by researchers from Google, is not designed to replace humans but instead improve current diagnostic processes.

The early detection test for Parkinson's involves a subject undertaking a short series of writing and drawing tasks, with software monitoring the data in real-time

Medical

Writing-based early detection Parkinson's test set for 2022 release

A team of Australian researchers has developed a novel early detection test for Parkinson’s disease based on a short series of drawing and writing tasks. The team is aiming to move through final trial stages and bring the new test to market by 2022.

New research claims a blood test could detect breast cancer up to five years before clinical signs appear

Medical

Early-stage breast cancer blood test revealed but scientists skeptical

A new study claims a novel blood test can identify breast cancer years before clinical signs of the disease appear. The blood test is only in its preliminary stages of development, however, some scientists are skeptical of the researchers’ claims.

Researchers have developed new diagnostic devices that can attract and trap cancer cells as they migrate to new parts of the body

Medical

Implantable cancer traps could replace biopsies for tumor detection

Researchers from the University of Michigan have developed cancer traps that can be implanted just below the skin. In mouse tests, these traps caught biomarkers that can tell doctors if cancer is present, if it’s spreading or if it’s preparing to.

New research affirms a correlation between the speed of pupil dilation and the earliest stage of Alzheimer's disease, before cognitive decline appears

Medical

Eye scan offers early Alzheimer’s diagnostic test

A study reveals measuring the speed of pupil dilation while undertaking a cognitive test could help identify early, pre-symptomatic stages of Alzheimer’s.

Medical

Robot MD: How artificial intelligence promises to revolutionize medical diagnosis

When it comes to medical ailments and their diagnosis, time is absolutely of the essence. And lately we are seeing how artificial intelligence is poised to play a monumental role in detecting tell-tale signs of disease long before doctors can.

Scientists tested out their new chemical probe, which lights up the molecules that cells eat, on zebrafish embryos

Medical

Tracking the diets of cells could reveal early signs of cancer

Just like the organisms they inhabit, cells require sustenance to grow and thrive. Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have developed a new diet-tracking tool that could be used to observe changes in their eating habits, which in turn may serve as telltale signs of disease.

A woman who noticed her husband developed a distinctive smell has led to skin-secreted volatile biomarkers indicating Parkinson's disease being identified

Medical

Smell of Parkinson’s finally identified, early detection test on the way

A team of scientists has solved the mystery of the strange Parkinson's disease smell, revealing a number of skin-secreted volatile biomarkers can be detected in patients suffering from the disease. The next step for the research is to turn this discovery into an early-detection tool.