AI FaceAge Tool Predicts Cancer Survival From Selfies

Researchers at Mass General Brigham have developed an AI tool called FaceAge that estimates biological age from selfies, using a system trained on 59,000 facial images. Published studies in The Lancet Digital Health show that cancer patients typically appear about five years older biologically than their actual age, and younger FaceAges correlate with better survival rates after therapy. FaceAge outperformed clinicians in predicting short-term life expectancy for patients receiving palliative radiotherapy, offering a more objective and accurate assessment than traditional visual judgments. The tool is low-cost, noninvasive, and enables ongoing monitoring of patient health. Further studies are underway to evaluate its potential in other diseases and in assessing the effects of cosmetic procedures such as Botox. Researchers believe integrating AI-driven assessments like FaceAge could significantly enhance clinical decision-making and personalize cancer care.