All about
EDICINE FUTURE OF M
Forget Michelin stars and caviar, we are going back to basics in Madrid with 10 traditional suggerstions of where to eat
'digital healthcare - from rming Spain's How AI is transfoting strokes' hearts' to 'predic Askey
And, as our special health supplement explores, having a glass of wine and a morning coffee will help you live even longer
I’LL DRINK TO THAT
By Tate
(AI) is at the forefront RTIFICIAL intelligence offering solutions to of modern medicine, . longalso help patients across diagnostics, enabling timely interventions and virtual assistants standing challenges more effectively. drug discovery. gaining Chatbots treatment, and technological revolution is compa- manage their symptoms and TRIALS In Spain, this AND CLINICAL several institutions may benefit momentum, withcharge. DRUG DISCOVERY wine drinking at the MODERATE to researchers nies leading the surprise, as Spain has recently research with Barceloheart health according transforming drug €3.5 million to It comes as no the forerunners in global medical l sci- AI is also Biorce recently securing University of Barcelona.a small glass a day streamlining probecome one of as an internationa na-based itself ar trials using AI, They found drinking research, establishingpowerhouse. enhance clinical the risk of cardiovascul notoriously ts are digital cesses and increasing efficiency. could reduce to 50% for those following a ence and technology treatrecents achievemen drugs has become and tighter disease by up diet. Among Spain’s quickly and cheaply test new and Developing new and rising costst to a crawl. to expensive, Mediterranean of a larger investigation into used medicines hearts slow and to develop new slowed developmen The study, partdiet, included 1,232 people at ments, AI models to help patients make important regulations have to reverse that trend, ensuring the celebrated robot counsellors ar diseases. AI offers a waytreatments reach patients faster.and costs risk of cardiovascul urine samples to meareduce medical decisions. life-saving new will ‘Jarvis’ paperHEARTS natural subResearchers used Biorce’s AI model for drug development. underand reducing acid levels, a an objective WITH VIRTUAL sure tartaric find and from already records, scheduling, BARCELONA LEADS shorten timeframes and wine, as by helping patients s for relevant healththus taking some of the burden stance in grapes consumption. It achieves this work, organisations, requirement wine of erate the ased systems. stand indicator aiding researchers stretched healthcare Two Barcelona-band the Barcelona that light-to-mod clinical trials, while Results showed n (half to one glass per Elem Biotech Center, have develeligible participants. CHALLENGES in the search for is a user-friendly soluwine consumptio with a 50% lower risk AND PRACTICAL Supercomputing ing virtual repliThe AI database 480,000 clinical tri- ETHICAL day) was associated oped a groundbreak concerns and regulaar issues. heart. tion including overthe research process of cardiovascul AI’s potential, ethical ca of the human be personalised for challenging. need als, streamlining treatments can be Despite This model can tory hurdles remain considerations, and theissues enabling precise so that effective of the individual patients, Data privacy, ethical and treatments. Marioversight are some identified sooner. testing of drugs for robust humanworking to overcome. co-founder NG interE COUNSELLI According to Elem’s researchers are like ChatGPT, while promising, “Nature can be AI IN HEALTHCAR use. Reano Vazquez: mathematics. In the Moreover, models direct medical AI platforms are are not yet suitable for Stanford University highpreted using can do human clinical in At a clinical level, at Harvard and same way you test a cohort of digital provide specialised AI’s performanceThe apps like searchers being used to gaps between trials, you can light significant guidance through real-world scenarios. and healthcare tests in Intelligence hearts.” standardised of Artificial ter achieves a the morn1Doc3. drink coffee in t provides Span- Assessment and Validation(EVIAS) aims to address Elem’s supercompu ular what would take PEOPLE who AI-driven The developmen risk of cardiovasc AI algorithms just nine hours years to calculate, users with millions in Healthcare frameworks Spain, ensuring ing have a lower to those who drink it ish-speaking deploysoallowing human 57 billion these issues withinsafety standards before cheaper, and more disease compared healthcare guidance, day. medical decisions. efficacy and offering faster, solutions. throughout the by Tulane University, to make informedthe system is able to meet in clinical practice. is to phisticated medical ment ultimate ambition Powered by AI, The research, adults between 1999 by performing The company’s human body digitally, IN MEDICINE streamline healthcare studied 40,725 assessment, triage model the entire FUTURE OF AI for persona basic symptom s before connecting THE not drink and 2018. AI will create opening new possibilities people who did expertise and more efficient, and pre-diagnosidoctor. Compared to who consumed it in the aliSed medicine. Combining human smarter, the patient to a who may not healthcare system that is coffee, those 16% less likely to die WITH AI AI’s get the This enables patients individual needs. morning were and 31% PREDICTING RISK and tailored to to a physical clinic in Barcelona showcase addressCentre isn’t stop- normally have access from any cause Pioneering initiatives healthcare while like EVISupercomputing to die from to revolutionise they need. likely The Barcelonahearts. help less frameworks potential disthrough model ping at virtual centre has developed an AI from cardiovascular CS AND IMAGING ing critical challenges data its influThe research ENHANCING DIAGNOSTI ease. stroke risk using ng di- AS. technology continues to advance, fared capable of predicting As AI are also revolutionisi They also is set to grow, early global betmedical practice mobile devices. could significantly improve AI-powered algorithms AI tools match or surpass considerably like ence on innovative solutions to emerging This innovation prevention strategies, allowing agnostics. For example, medical images aging populations ter against all-day individuals human experts in analysing These technologies offering issues such as intervention and MRIs to identify at-risk drinkers. such as healthcare constraints. CT scans, and optimising outhealthcare providers in detecting conditions improv- and resource treatment. mobile X-rays, processes and overand offer timelywidespread accessibility of major enhance accuracy By streamlining help ease the pressures on skin cancers, significantly By using the breakthrough represents ahealth- pneumonia and comes, AI could systems worldwide. efficiency. technology, this ing diagnostic applications, AI is streamlining stretched healthcare inclusive and proactive step towards more Beyond clinical by managing electronic powered by AI healthcare administration care. monitoring systems vital signs, These remote tracking of patients’ continuous allow
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Elem’s supercomputer achieves in just nine hours what would take a human 57 billion years to calculate
SEE PAGE 14
OLIVE PRESS
IT’S A GREAT TIME TO BE ALIVE
JANUARY 2025
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www.theolivepress.
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YOU’RE EATING WHAT?
. A coffee a day.. but NOT all day!
Is AI the future of healthcare? We take a look at the latest developments in Spain
SEE HEALTH SPECIAL INSIDE
MALLORCA
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Vol. 8 Issue 197
www.theolivepress.es
HOUSING MESS ESTATE agents in Spain have criticised proposals that could hit British and other non-EU buyers in the country. They claim Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s 12-point housing plan will create ‘confusion’ and likely put off buyers. In particular, they slammed his proposal to double the tax paid by non-EU residents. The scheme aims to promote public housing and solve the growing rental crisis. Sanchez insisted the law, to begin in 2026, was necessary due to ‘an excess’ of Airbnb rentals and ‘a lack of properties’. “Our obligation is to prioritise homes for locals over tourist use,” he stated. “We will make a change so tourist apartments are taxed as a business so they will pay the same as hotels.
Speculation
“We are also going to limit the purchase of homes by non-EU non-residents who buy about 27,000 houses annually, mainly for speculation.” To do this the government is considering plans to raise by 100% the tax levy paid by non-EU residents who buy a second home. This will follow April’s end of the Golden Visa scheme - the residence permits for foreigners who buy houses for more than €500,000. To fight fraud, the government is also planning to tighten the regulation of seasonal rentals. A fund will also be created for Spain’s 17 regions to apply for money to increase inspections of tourist properties to ensure they are licensed. “This scheme is only likely to create confusion in the market,” claimed boss of Marbella’s Panorama, Chris Clover. “And it might deter some individuals from purchasing in Spain.” Meanwhile, Adam Neale at Terra Meridiana, in Estepona, described it as ‘moronic’ and added: “The 12-point plan should have read: ‘ B u i l d more social housing 12 times’.”
SCAN here for the latest news January 17th - January 30th 2025
DANGER DRUG VICTORY KILL THE DRUG
Health warnings must be added to controversial pain drug Nolotil after years of campaigning by the Olive Press AN Olive Press campaign against a lethal painkiller drug has won a key victory. Manufacturers of Nolotil blamed for the death of at least 40 expats and tourists - have had to send a fresh warning to all health centres and doctors around Spain. The note, which went out last month, warns of ‘dangerous’ side effects to watch out for after taking the drug. It follows an EU investigation, which concluded it was necessary to update the drug’s safety information.
Pain
In particular, it warns how the drug can cause ‘agranulocytosis’, or the depletion of white blood cells, which can lead to a weakened immune system, organ failure and occasionally death. Though statistically rare, the deadly side effects are believed to be more common among northern Europeans due to genetic differences. The warning lists a series of symptoms to look out for and says they can appear even after the treatment is finished. Among the side effects are a sore throat, fever, shivers and pain in the mouth, nose and genitals. Patients must also ‘remain vigilant’ as agranulocytosis ‘can appear at any time
By Yzabelle Bostyn
during treatment regardless of the dosage, even just after it has finished.’ More alarmingly, the symptoms can even ‘go unnoticed’ if the patient is suffering with the flu or taking antibiotics. Furthermore, regular blood tests, previously required, for those taking the drug and its active ingredient metamizole will now be stopped as they have not ‘proven effective.’ “It’s a victory that things are (finally) being tightened,” medical campaigner Cristina Del Campo (above) told the Olive Press this week. However, she warned that the health authorities are effective-
ly passing responsibility over to the patients and their families to monitor the drug. “I’m actually very angry as they are trying to wash their hands of the issue,” she insisted. “I mean now they are saying there’s no point doing blood tests as agranulocytosis could appear at any time, so how are we supposed to trust that it’s safe?” she asked. “People are waking up and getting angry that the most s o l d medication in
Spain is so dangerous.” The warning overseen by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) alongside the Spanish Medicines Agency (AEMPs) follows a six-year ‘Kill the drug’ campaign by the Olive Press alongside activist del Campo. Opinion Page 6
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