Face morphometric profiles of groups as early markers for certain diseases?

TL;DR

This study explores the potential of face morphometry profiles as early markers for diseases like Alzheimer's by analyzing facial features in a large Cuban population dataset.

Contribution

It presents preliminary face morphometry profiles for the Cuban population and links facial development genes to Alzheimer's disease risk markers.

Findings

Face morphometry profiles reveal population dynamics across age groups.

Genes involved in facial development are related to Alzheimer's disease.

Facial features can serve as early risk markers for late multifactorial diseases.

Abstract

Background: Face morphometry has been shown to work as a diagnosis tool in a set of syndromes. Face similarities are usually indications of more complete genetic similarities. Purpose: To show preliminary results on the face morphometry profile of the Cuban population and to argue that it could be used to define early markers for diseases, like Alzheimer. Methods: A dataset composed of photos of 200000 men is processed. Facial landmarks are extracted by means of the DLIB library and distances between them are computed. By clustering samples with similar facial traits, groups are formed and their densities inside the population are computed. Results: The face morphometry profiles for two age cohorts are obtained, showing the population dynamics. Genes involved in facial development are shown to be related to Alzheimer's disease. Conclusions: Late multifactorial diseases develop against the genetic background of each individual, which is expressed by its face morphometry. The latter can be thus considered a risk marker.