<p>In this episode, Dr. Eric Topol, founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, shares how artificial intelligence and deep learning is currently impacting medicine and how it could transform the healthcare industry, not only in terms of the technological advancements, but also in restoring the patient-doctor relationship for better patient outcomes and experiences. We also discuss Eric's rich and fascinating career in cardiology as well as his involvement as one of the first outspoken researchers to question the cardiovascular safety of Vioxx.</p> <p><span style="color: #000000;">We discuss:</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="color: #000000;">Eric's background and his source of interest in cardiology [3:15];</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #000000;">The US medical field's resistance to technological change and learning from other healthcare models [11:15];</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #000000;">Eric's mission at the Cleveland Clinic [20:15];</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #000000;">How Eric helped to elucidate the issues with Vioxx (and why he came to regret it) [29:45];</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #000000;">How Eric came to found one of the most influential research centers in the world [47:30];</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #000000;">How AI and deep learning is currently impacting medicine, and the future possibilities [56:30];</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #000000;">Gut microbiome—Its role in health, impact on glycemic response and fuel partitioning, and how deep learning could improve our research and treatment [1:17:45];</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #000000;">Why machines combined with human doctors is superior to one without the other [1:32:00];</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #000000;">How AI and machines can reinstate medicine as an attractive career (and alleviate physician burnout) [1:36:45];</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #000000;">Eric's dream experiment [1:47:15] and;</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #000000;">More.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="color: #000000;">Learn more: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/">https://peterattiamd.com/</a><br /> <br /> Show notes page for this episode: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/erictopol">https://peterattiamd.com/erictopol</a><br /> <br /> Subscribe to receive exclusive subscriber-only content: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/">https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/</a><br /> <br /> Sign up to receive Peter's email newsletter: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/">https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/</a><br /> <br /> Connect with Peter on <a href="http://Facebook.com/PeterAttiaMD"><u>Faceboo</u></a><u>k</u> | <a href="http://Twitter.com/PeterAttiaMD"><u>Twitter</u></a> | <a href="http://Instagram.com/PeterAttiaMD"><u>Instagram</u></a>.<br /></span></p>
Actionable Insights
1. Utilize Continuous Glucose Monitor
Wear a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) for at least 90 days, even if not diabetic, to gain personalized insights into how your body responds to food, exercise, sleep, and stress. This continuous data helps you understand your unique physiological responses and learn about your body’s fuel partitioning, which is a constant learning process.
2. Prioritize Human Connection in Medicine
Seek out and support medical professionals who prioritize deep, empathetic conversations and truly listen to your life history and non-verbal cues. This restores the essential human bond in medicine, which machines cannot replicate, and is crucial for understanding a person’s real, deep issues.
3. Use Portable 6-Lead ECG
Consider acquiring a portable six-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) device, which is credit card-sized and connects to your phone, to monitor your heart rhythm and conduction system at home. This provides high-quality data, can be used for self-stress tests, and offers remarkably insightful information beyond a simple pulse check.
4. Question Primary Prevention Statins
Engage in an informed discussion with your doctor about the actual benefits of statins for primary prevention, recognizing that current clinical trial data suggests a small number of people (e.g., 12 out of 1000 over five years) derive benefit. Understand the limitations of long-term data and the heterogeneity of patient response when considering this widely prescribed medication.
5. Be Wary of Executive Physicals
Avoid unnecessary ’executive physicals’ or excessive medical screenings, as these often lead to ‘overcooked’ individuals and incidental illnesses without clear benefit. Such extensive testing in affluent populations can result in bad outcomes and unnecessary procedures.
6. Understand Gut Microbiome Utility
Approach gut microbiome testing with a clear understanding of its current utility: it’s primarily a readout of your stable bacterial DNA, useful for predicting individual food responses, but not yet a malleable state for direct manipulation outside of specific conditions like C. difficile colitis. Be cautious of companies that only report bacterial density or make unsubstantiated claims about probiotics.
7. Use Apple Watch for AFib (Cautiously)
If at risk for atrial fibrillation, consider using the Apple Watch’s ECG feature, which can detect irregular heart rhythms based on your resting heart rate. However, be aware that for individuals not at risk, it can lead to false positives, anxiety, and unnecessary medical workups.
8. Engage in Medical Activism
Physicians and patients should organize and become activists to advocate for a healthcare system that prioritizes the patient-doctor relationship and addresses issues like physician burnout. This collective ‘gravitas’ can challenge administrative pressures and restore humanity to medicine.
9. Embrace Challenging Personal Projects
Continuously seek out and engage in ‘big projects’ or challenges that are a ‘reach’ to keep yourself motivated and growing. This personal strategy helps maintain engagement and fosters innovation.
10. Empower Self-Diagnosis (Common Conditions)
Explore tools and knowledge to enable ‘doctorless diagnoses’ for common, benign conditions like ear infections, urinary tract infections, or skin rashes. This shift towards patient autonomy can decompress routine medical visits and change the landscape of specialty care.
11. Inquire About AI Colonoscopy
If undergoing a colonoscopy, inquire about the availability of deep learning machine vision, which has been shown to pick up polyps (e.g., 20% more) that are routinely missed by human operators. This technology can improve the thoroughness and accuracy of polyp detection.