Blood Test Predicts Risk of Various Diseases

The newspaper "The Times" revealed that one day a simple blood test may be able to tell us the risk of developing a range of diseases, after researchers discovered protein signatures that can predict the likelihood of more than 60 medical conditions nearly a decade ago. According to the paper, "Compared to traditional clinical methods, the approach based on analyzing blood from 40,000 people in the UK successfully assessed the probability of individuals developing diseases such as multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer, and pulmonary fibrosis." In this regard, Julia Carrasco Zanini Sanchez from Queen Mary University in London stated that researchers wanted to adapt the method for use with high-priority diseases. She expressed her enthusiasm for the test, saying: "We are very excited about the opportunities this presents for predicting disease risk," adding that "this test is still in the discovery phase and there are a few steps we need to take." The newspaper added: "The test provides a risk assessment, not a definitive diagnosis." "The Times" concluded that researchers hope it will be used to screen high-risk populations early, allowing for quicker diagnosis if patients become ill or for lifestyle changes to reduce risks, alongside the potential for participation in preventive medicine clinical trials.