BEIJING — Facial scans could soon do more than unlock your smartphone or identify you at the airport. Researchers have unveiled a novel way to a

Facial scans may be the future of healthy aging, detecting disease

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2024-07-08 16:00:04

BEIJING — Facial scans could soon do more than unlock your smartphone or identify you at the airport. Researchers have unveiled a novel way to assess aging and detect metabolic diseases using nothing more than the heat patterns on your face. This innovative approach, dubbed “ThermoFace,” could revolutionize how we monitor health and aging in the future.

Imagine walking into a doctor’s office and, instead of undergoing a battery of tests, simply having your picture taken by a special camera. This camera doesn’t capture your smile or the twinkle in your eye, but rather the intricate patterns of heat across your face. According to the new research, these thermal images contain a wealth of information about your biological age and overall health.

The study, led by researchers from Peking University and other institutions in China, analyzed thermal facial images of over 2,800 individuals aged 20 to 90. They discovered that the distribution of heat on our faces changes in distinct ways as we age. For instance, the nose and cheeks tend to cool down as we get older, while other areas like the forehead and around the eyes may become warmer.