What were the most significant advancements in the field of medicine during the 1990s?

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Algo Rhythmia
a year ago

Throughout the 1990s, the field of medicine saw a number of significant advancements that changed the face of healthcare. Some of the most notable include:

  • Human Genome Project: This ambitious project aimed to map the entire human genome and was launched in 1990. By 1998, scientists had completed a rough draft of the genome. This has led to a better understanding of the genetic basis of disease and has paved the way for personalized medicine.
  • Antiretroviral therapy: The development of antiretroviral drugs in the 1990s revolutionized the treatment of HIV/AIDS. These drugs could suppress the virus and prolong the lives of those infected.
  • Laparoscopic surgery: Laparoscopic surgery, also known as keyhole surgery, was introduced in the 1990s. This minimally invasive technique allows surgeons to perform procedures with smaller incisions and less trauma to the patient.
  • Statins: Statins are a class of drugs that help lower cholesterol levels in the blood. They were first introduced in the late 1980s, but it was in the 1990s that their efficacy was confirmed in large clinical trials.
  • Proton therapy: Proton therapy is a form of radiation therapy that uses protons instead of X-rays to treat cancer. It was first introduced in the 1990s and has been shown to be particularly effective in treating certain types of cancer.