Turning a routine bone scan into a powerful heart check.
Using AI to detect hidden calcium in arteries from bone density scans, spotting cardiovascular risk early, before it becomes catastrophic.
Automated assessment of the presence and extent of abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) with similar accuracies to imaging specialists provides the possibility of large-scale screening for cardiovascular disease and other conditions, even before someone has any symptoms.”
The Challenge: Silent Threat
Missed signs, missed opportunities
Too often, cardiovascular disease remains invisible until it becomes catastrophic. Despite significant advances in cardiovascular treatment, too many individuals remain unaware of their risk until they experience a life-altering or fatal heart attack or stroke.
A major contributor to this challenge is our limited ability to assess the true condition of a person’s blood vessels. Traditional risk assessments rely on indirect indicators like cholesterol levels or blood pressure and do not provide a clear picture of actual arterial health. As a result, signs of early blood vessel disease are frequently missed. Calcium build-up within the walls of the blood vessels can indicate a person’s risk of heart attack in the future.
Our SolutionThe Technology: AI-Enabled Early Detection
Turning bone scans into heart warnings
Our approach is a state-of-the-art, AI-powered solution that automatically detects and quantifies abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) on lateral spine images captured by Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) machines used to assess people’s bone health.
This technique converts a widely available scan into a new way of assessing blood vessel health. The system aims to deliver fast, reliable results, in seconds and complements, rather than replaces, existing tests.
The technology was developed by Professor Joshua Lewis of Edith Cowan University’s Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute (ECU NHIRI) and an international team, undertaking AAC research since 2016, with over $6 million in research funding secured.
Hidden risk
Calcium build-up within the walls of the blood vessels can indicate a person’s risk of heart attack in the future. Traditional risk assessments rely on indirect indicators like cholesterol levels or blood pressure and do not provide a clear picture of actual arterial health.
The technology
Our AI-powered solution automatically detects and quantifies abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) on lateral spine images captured by DEXA machines. The system delivers fast, reliable results in seconds, and complements rather than replaces existing tests.
Global reach
Each year, approximately 700,000 Australians and over three million Americans undergo DEXA bone density testing.[1] By leveraging this established scanning network, the solution is ready for immediate deployment across wellness and research settings, and subject to regulatory approval, across healthcare.
The evidence
Validated across more than 75,000 individuals in Australia, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Advances (JACC), a leading cardiovascular research journal.[2]
Supported By
The Research: Peer-Reviewed Evidence
A new frontier in cardiovascular screening
Our work, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Advances, found that one in five middle-aged to older individuals had moderate or high AAC detected using our automated approach and were two to three times more likely to experience a heart attack within five years.[2]
“I often pitch the aorta as the ‘life-trunk’ of the vascular tree. The health and function of the abdominal aorta is critical as it serves as the main conduit for oxygenated blood and nutrients through its many branches to nearly all major abdominal and lower-body organ systems, including the kidneys, liver, intestines, and lower limbs. During ageing or through cardiometabolic injury the abdominal aorta stiffens and calcifies — a marker of atherosclerosis, medial calcification and aortic stiffness that compromise many organ systems by altering blood flow and limiting adequate perfusion.”
Professor Joshua Lewis
Edith Cowan University
Invest in the future of preventive healthcare
We are seeking equity investment and strategic partnerships to bring this life-saving technology to market. Join us at this pivotal moment as we move from research to real-world impact.
Register Your InterestReal Experiences
Life Changing Impact
Providing people with their AAC results has been shown to drive measurable improvements in cardiovascular risk factors within just 12 weeks.[3]
I think anyone my age would want to know [about their AAC]. It gave me the motivation to make changes. I came away thinking, ‘Okay, I have an issue to sort out. I’ve got a challenge – and I’m grateful to know.”
The initial results for me have been life changing. I was most surprised to be informed of evidence of advanced blood vessel disease. This was confirmed by a CT scan, and I’ve consulted with a specialist.”
Further Reading
Articles and Updates
AI to predict your health later in life – all at the press of a button
Thanks to artificial intelligence, we will soon be able to predict our risk of developing serious health conditions later in…
Read More @ ECU NHIRI
Message from the heart: Abdominal aortic calcification for CV risk detection
Abdominal aortic calcification or AAC is the deposition of calcium within the intimal or medial layers of the aortic…
Read More @ ECU NHIRI
Blood vessel imaging results may improve cardiovascular risk control
Researchers have provided abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) imaging results to attempt to elicit behavioural…
Read More @ ECU NHIRI
Abdominal aortic calcification and cardiovascular disease
Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC), commonly seen on abdominal and lumbar spine imaging, was associated with…
Read More @ ECU NHIRIGet in Touch
Stay Connected
We welcome enquiries from investors, healthcare providers, researchers, and anyone with an interest in the future of cardiovascular screening. Sign up here to find out more, or email us at hello@presagio.ai.
References
1. DEXA scan volume data: Australia – Medicare Benefits Schedule items 12306, 12312, 12315, 12320, 12321, 12322. Available at: medicarestatistics.humanservices.gov.au (excludes private and DVA-reimbursed scans). United States — Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMS code 77080. Available at: data.cms.gov (Medicare beneficiaries only; approximately 18% of US population).
2. Sim M, Webster J, Smith C, Saleem A, Gilani SZ, Toro-Huamanchumo CJ, Suter D, Figtree G, Lagendijk AK, Duncan EL, Schultz C, Szulc P, Hung J, Lim WH, Raina P, Bondonno NP, Woodman R, Hodgson JM, Kiel DP, Prince RL, Leslie WD, Kemp JP, Harvey NC, Schousboe JT, Lewis JR. Automated Abdominal Aortic Calcification Scores and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in the UK Biobank Imaging Study. JACC: Advances. 2026 Mar;5(3). doi.org/10.1016/j.jacadv.2025.102570
3. Radavelli-Bagatini S, et al. Impact of provision of abdominal aortic calcification results on fruit and vegetable intake: 12-week randomized phase 2 controlled trial. Nature Communications. 2024 Oct 14. nature.com/articles/s41467-024-52172-1