AI finds a hidden stress signal in routine CT scans

Researchers have used a deep learning artificial intelligence model to identify what they say is the first biomarker of chronic stress that is directly visible on standard medical images. The results will be presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Chronic stress doesn’t just affect mood. According to the American Psychological Association, it can affect both physical and mental health, contributing to problems such as anxiety, sleep problems, muscle pain, high blood pressure and a less effective immune system. Studies have also linked prolonged stress to serious medical conditions such as heart disease, depression and obesity.

AI measures the adrenal glands during routine CT scans

The study’s lead author, Elena Ghotbi, MD, a postdoctoral fellow at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, developed and trained a deep learning tool that can calculate adrenal gland size from CT scans…