AI can identify rare disease by just looking at hands

Technology Mar 10, 2026

Researchers in Japan have built an AI that can identify acromegaly, a rare condition caused by too much growth hormone, just by analyzing pictures of people's hands.
Since symptoms like bigger hands and feet often go unnoticed for years, this technology could help people get diagnosed much sooner.

The model even picked up on the 'fist sign'

The AI was trained on more than 11,000 hand images from 725 participants to keep things private and accurate.
It scored higher than endocrinologists at spotting the disease, with an F1 score of 0.89 compared with doctors' 0.43 to 0.63.
The model even picked up on the "fist sign," when someone can't cover their fingernails with their fist, which researchers say could make regular check-ups way more effective at catching acromegaly early.