THE GAP BETWEEN HOW LONG PEOPLE LIVE AND HOW HEALTHY THEY ARE IS OFTEN REFLECTED IN THE DIFFERENCE IN WEALTH.
Access to alternative therapies, and sometimes even basic tests, are generally confined to people who have the financial means to afford them. Although it is common to see affluent individuals enjoying things that others can’t, the matter is more significant when it’s about staying healthy into old age. In the UK and US, experts estimate that the richest people not only live longer, but they also live without disabilities for around 8 to 9 years longer than the poorest people.
It seems unjust and unfair for only the richest people in society to control health and things that make life better, especially when reflecting upon how much a person’s way of living can impact their health. At a time where we still have a fixed maximum lifespan, the way an individual lives is a crucial factor in how long they live, even more so than their genes; and when thinking about how genes can be affected by your lifestyle, certain health problems you might be prone to can be made worse by how you live. Imagine two people, for example, who both could be genetically predisposed to heart problems\, but in different financial situations. Both are stressed, but the richer individual is able to access acupuncture or hypnotherapy to manage their stress, while the poorer person can’t afford such luxuries, including the extra time. This makes the poorer person much more likely to develop heart problems.
Being able to live a healthier life and extend longevity should be seen as a universal right, not a privilege, and access for everybody needs to be improved.
In this article, Jasmine Smith, CEO of Rejuve.AI, takes a look at how blockchain and AI are being used to create equal access to better health and longevity. Jasmine explores how blockchain is helping people to gain back control over their data and how AI is being used to bring more treatment options to the table, and how it could help support better allocation of resources that support a healthier lifestyle, such as healthier food.
Jasmine is the Chief Executive Officer of Rejuve.AI, a pioneering longevity research company committed to leveraging artificial intelligence in the pursuit of understanding and reversing human ageing. A natural medicine enthusiast with a background in Health Information Management and Health Informatics.
Before stepping into her role as CEO, Jasmine spent four years as a Senior Medical Coder for a level IV trauma hospital, honing her expertise in health data management. She began as a passionate member of the SingularityNET community, officially joining the team in April 2021 as ecosystem Community Manager, and Product Manager for the Rejuve project. She became CEO 4 months later in August 2021. Notably, under her leadership Rejuve.AI began development of the Longevity App, a breakthrough tool designed to calculate users’ approximate biological age and provide health insights, and launched its official token, RJV, in March 2023.
TRANSFORMING HOW PEOPLE GET HEALTHCARE BY USING TECHNOLOGY
Blockchain and AI have seen a significant rise in the past several years and are helping to bridge the healthcare access gap in many ways. Blockchain is not only enabling people to regain control of their own health and medical data, but is empowering them to be able to use that data to their own advantage.
Through the decentralized nature of blockchain technology, people can retain ownership of their personal data and records. Instead of sacrificing your data for an untrusted tech giant to use it for their own advantage, a person can use it to support causes they have an interest in or even ‘monetise’ it to gain access to goods and services. With the unique features of this technology, you’re not handing over your data blindly; instead, you can keep an eye on how it’s being used and can grant or withdraw access and make informed decisions.
It can also be a useful way to reduce the difference in healthcare access. For example, Rejuve’s Longevity app lets people share their information to learn more about their health. In return for this information, which is used forAI-driven longevity research, they can get access to treatments and special therapies usually only available to rich people. They still have control over their information and can see how it’s being used.
Another fundamental way blockchain could eventually enable access to healthcare more fairly is through offering proof of identity. In some countries, people are not fortunate enough to have documentation proving their identity. It can be difficult to access healthcare, even if it is free. By harnessing the power of blockchain, this can offer evidence and consequently help all individuals to access healthcare.
However, this is only one part of the bigger picture.
UNLEASHING THE POTENTIAL OF AI
The power of AI is difficult to underestimate, given its potential to create many possibilities for people around the globe. A few key examples include AI-powered products and services such as virtual helpers, tailored recommendations, and smart gadgets, all of which have gained widespread recognition, increasing the public’s awareness and acceptance of AI technologies.
Like blockchain, AI has a huge potential to play an important role in enabling fair healthcare access for everyone by addressing the various challenges in the general healthcare system.
To begin, AI programs can study healthcare information to find areas where there are deficiencies and more help is needed. They can identify and mitigate bias and then divide and allocate resources fairly and properly to those places. These programs analyze the data to discover which regions or groups need more resources. Once determined, AI systems can make sure that medical supplies, doctors, and medicines are distributed fairly. This makes sure that everyone can get the healthcare they need. In the future, AI might even help ideate and plan other aspects of healthy society such as where healthier food options are needed.
As these new technologies get better and become part of healthcare all around the world, they pave a way to a future where living healthily, and for longer, is seen as something everyone can attain, not just select individuals. When blockchain and AI come together, they can create a true health care system that includes everyone, gives power to people through their data, and uses personalized and evidence-based insights and solutions for care. This will help close the gap so everyone can obtain quality healthcare, and the world becomes a fairer and healthier place for everyone. Even though there are still dilemmas to solve, blockchain and AI give us hope for a future where healthcare is fairer and easier for everyone.
