The world in 2025

• Engaged consumers. Most people understand they’re largely responsible for their health, and the impact that ageing, nutrition and exercise can have on their immune system; but others need ‘nudges’ to help them change their behaviours
• Healthily ageing. Geriatric science, plus regenerative and precision medicine, offer new insights to support our understanding of ageing. People use supplements, prophylactic treatments and vaccinations to prevent disease with, AgeTech solutions helping older people live safely and independently for longer
• Continuous health monitoring. Individuals no longer request intermittent healthcare checks when feeling unwell: instead they deploy technologies for continuous health monitoring
• Mental health monitoring. Changes in mental health are identified through face-recognition technology, sleep patterns, mood and environmental factors
• Personal health information. People have easy access to their own secure health records and have control over who to share them with and why.

Conquered constraints in 2025

• Skills and talent. Coordinated health-improvement initiatives have helped develop people’s digital skills/health literacy, using virtual health coaches, gamification and chat-bots
• Funding. As the cost of sensors and genetic testing has decreased, people are happy to spend money on personalised therapies that will help them age well
• Regulation. Regulators have modernised the oversight of consumer health products by developing an internationally agreed framework which segments products by their risk profiles to ensure they are safe and effective
• Data. Enhanced data security and privacy settings have improved consumer confidence in using medical technologies. Connectivity via 5G is a huge factor.

A snapshot of a patient in 2025: How the microbiome can improve the immune health of a new mother and her baby

Freyja is having a C-section due to complications during pregnancy. She learns from Dr Ahmed that ‘how’ babies are born has a significant impact on important gut microbes.

Having used a recommended chatbot, Freyja discovers that babies born by C-section can lack strains of gut bacteria found in those born via the birth canal (instead, their guts are more likely to harbour harmful microbes found in hospitals). To make sure her baby develops a healthy gut microbiome, Freyja consults Dr Ahmed send a test swab of Freya’s health microbiome to the laboratory where scientists use an AI-enabled in-vitro diagnostic test to identify the helpful strains of bacteria from Freyja’s microbiome and create a personalised formula for Freyja’s baby once it’s born.

As Dr Ahmed also mentions that having a C-section can increase the risk of postnatal depression, Freyja speaks to the clinic’s dietician, Andi, who explain how the gut-brain axis impacts mental health and how a person’s microbiota can help the synthesis of mood-influencing neurotransmitters. Andi formulates a personalised daily solution of pre- and pro-biotics to help keep Freyja’s mental and physical well-being in balance.

Evidence in 2020

• Apple Watch Series 6. Uses a SpO2 sensor to measure oxygen levels for fitness and wellness purposes via red and infrared light. Apple is partnering with academics to study how this new metric can be used to help treat medical conditions
• Amazon Halo. As well as tracking fitness through movement and sleep, smartphone cameras can take body scans via the app to give a better idea of BMI than just weight alone. Voice analysis monitors the consumers’ tone throughout the day to monitor stress levels
• Deep Longevity’s ‘Biohorology’. Features new tools based on ‘biohorology’ (the science of measuring the passage of time in living systems) that use the biomarkers of ageing such as DNAm, gene expression and metabolomics.

How COVID-19 has accelerated this prediction

Deloitte’s view

The global pandemic has raised public awareness of two things. The risks to their health of having a weak immune system and an increase in mental health risks.

COVID-19 has also increased significantly the use of technology by people monitoring their own health and learning new ways to lead more active and healthy lifestyles. It’s also shown the importance of improving digital literacy, and establishing more local, meaningful public engagement that focuses on building trust and compassion with local communities.

Importantly, COVID-19 has highlighted how pivotal vaccinations are to protect people’s health and return countries to a ‘new normal’. Hopefully, in early 2021, we’ll have greater clarity as to how quickly mass-vaccinations will be available and the public’s appetite for them.

Helpful chatbots

There has been a growth in the number of AI chatbots to enable people to ask questions about their symptoms to determine the likelihood of a COVID-19 infection and obtain advice. They also provide a clear risk assessment and advice based on the latest policies, plus recommendation on self-isolation and access to tests. The German start-up DOCYET, for example, has a chat app that helps patients navigate their healthcare system and matches them with COVID-19-related medical services on- and off-line.

Explore more

Our series of ten predictions for the life sciences and healthcare industry looks ahead to the year 2025 to help you see what’s coming and to keep your organisation moving forward.

Browse the predictions series, subscribe and listen to our podcast, and watch our webinar on demand to find out more.

If you would like to discuss any of the points raised in our predictions, please do contact one of our specialists listed below.