Researchers from the University of Surrey have developed an artificial intelligence model capable of identifying chemical compounds that promote healthier aging - paving a possible path towards pharmaceutical inventions that could extend human lifespan
[Translation by Dr. Moshe Nachmani]
As part of an article published in the scientific journal Nature Communication's Scientific Reports, it was revealed that a team of chemists from the University of Surrey (Surrey) in the United Kingdom developed a machine learning model based on information that came from the DrugAge database in order to predict whether a certain compound could lead to an extension of the lifespan of a transparent worm with a metabolism similar to that of humans. The shorter life span of this worm gave the researchers the opportunity to quickly test the effect of the chemical compounds on this trait.
The artificial intelligence model revealed three types of compounds with an eighty percent probability of increasing the worm's lifespan:
- flavonoids (antioxidant pigments found in plants and promoting cardiovascular health);
- fatty acids (such as omega 3);
- Organo-oxygens (compounds containing carbon-oxygen bonds, such as alcohol)
One of the co-authors of the article says: "In modern medicine, aging is increasingly recognized as a collection of diseases, and we can apply the tools of the digital world, such as artificial intelligence, in order to slow down or protect against aging and age-related diseases. Our research demonstrates the revolutionary ability of artificial intelligence to help identify compounds with anti-aging properties."
The lead researcher adds: "This study demonstrates the power and ability of artificial intelligence to provide important benefits to human health."
