Imagine a world where most of the diseases that haunt us no longer exist. That’s exactly what medical researchers are envisioning right now as they delve deeper into the mysteries of our bodies and what their components are capable of (and vulnerable to). There might be a future where we could expect to be absolutely disease free. In the meantime though, all we can do is donate to the cause or cheer on the scientists who are working day and night to create a utopia where we won’t have to be constantly scared of getting sick or dying from a disease. We might even stop the effects of aging itself, if things go according to plan! Here are five directions that current research is proceeding in, and we simply can’t wait to see the results!
Cancer Research Is Making Breakthroughs
This is one of the most feared and elusive sicknesses humans have ever encountered on earth. We’ve struggled year after year, discovering more and more about this disease until now. We now have a huge library of information, and while we’re still not exactly on the brink of discovering a cure, we’re hearing of new victories from survivors who can proudly claim that they are cancer-free.
We can now tell if a person has cancer in a simple, 10-minute test. This is much, much faster and more efficient than what we had a few years ago, not to mention how cost efficient the method is. We’re constantly hearing about large amounts of fundraising dedicated towards cancer research, and the various experimentation on cancer cells looks very promising. It is likely that in due time, more questions will be answered instead of asked when it comes to this disease that effects so many worldwide.
Conquering Alzheimer’s Disease
A few years ago, a lot of research has been started on trying to undo the effects of Alzheimer/Dementia. Since then, a whole lot of effort and funding has gone into trying to figure out the causes, whether hereditary or not, the fix, and what we can do to prevent or make it easier for the person suffering. However, that’s not all! One of the most important steps we’ve taken is to spread as much awareness about this disease as possible, so people know how to handle and deal with it.
Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease that kills off the brain slowly. It attacks a person’s memory at first, causing them to stop recognizing their loved ones (among their other memories). This can be a very testing time for the victim and their loved ones and we can’t wait until scientists are able to rid the world of this one. They already have proven techniques to help people avoid the disease, or at least delay its symptoms.
CRISPR – The March into the Future
You may have heard of CRISPR in the news recently. The technology basically holds the ability to edit our genetic makeup to remove any possibilities of a genetic disease. This could really send shock-waves throughout the world, and medical treatments could become as simple as a stroll through the park.
A Chinese scientist actually tested the technology on a couple of newborns to help them avoid diseases in the future, but he ended up drawing negative reactions and attention from the medical community and beyond, because the tech isn’t yet ready for testing on humans. We’re getting there, though. The only reason we age is that our bodies don’t heal as fast as they’re being damaged daily, and CRISPR could potentially change that!
The Role of AI in Healthcare
Humans aren’t alone in the struggle to keep us healthy anymore. Artificial intelligence is making huge strides in healthcare, and is quickly becoming a popular method in assisting nurses, doctors and more when it comes to caring for patients. AI is able to diagnose patients with more accuracy, and is often able to tell what the problem is based off of preemptive data. If this trend keeps up, AI could potentially replace doctors, making healthcare more accessible, safe and affordable for everyone.
We’ve managed to defeat many diseases as a species, and will hopefully continue on with that pattern. There’s still a lot that needs to be done in the realm of healthcare, but we’re beginning to gather a lot of momentum, with no slowing down in sight.