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Doctors use Avatar tech - 6th February 2023

Motion capture technology which filmmakers use in films like Avatar, is helping doctors. The motion sensors are placed on people’s bodies and can help doctors find diseases early.

Experts asked patients to put movement sensors on their head, arms and legs. A computer followed the movements. It can see the future problems the disease will cause in the patient.

Professor Aldo Faisal of Imperial College, London is one of the project leaders. He says the technology can recognise movements in the human body. The movements are too small for the human eye to see

The new technology is faster than doctors at recognising illnesses. Doctor Valeria Ricotti was amazed by the results. It's very positive for patients with diseases that make moving difficult.

They used the technology on patients with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). These are rare nerve and muscle diseases. There's no cure for them.

The project needs money for more research. It’s important because this technology will help patients get better treatment. The technology may also help people with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and multiple sclerosis.