The Future of Health: Innovations to Watch in 2025

2024 was a fast-paced year for healthcare, and as we approach the new year, it’s time to look ahead to see what’s in store when we gaze into 2025 ‘s crystal ball.  Many exciting trends are shaping the future of healthcare, and the main ones that will likely see continued growth and development are in the application of artificial intelligence (AI), remote health technology, and, overall, more personalized care approaches to medicine and mental healthcare. This is unsurprising, given that medical technology advances are moving incredibly quickly, and we have only just begun to scratch the surface of what tools like AI can do. 

We can also expect some new medications and approvals from the FDA to use existing medications. One outstanding is Ozempic, which will be widely used for conditions other than diabetes. Let’s take a look at predicted trends for 2025!

AI in Healthcare and Healthcare Organizations

In healthcare, using AI solves problems by helping to manage resources, predict disease occurrences, and make more accurate diagnoses. AI tools can quickly find tumors and fractures in diagnostic images, which assists doctors in creating fast and accurate treatment plans. AI chatbots provide virtual health support, and AI also speeds up the discovery of new drugs by speeding up the analysis of huge amounts of data. It can predict when patients will need hospital care and when diseases might spread, making it easier to handle staff shortages and improve healthcare delivery.

Our 2025 Crystal Ball Prediction for AI in Healthcare: AI will substantially change many aspects of healthcare, making it faster, smarter, and more efficient. It will help doctors create personalized treatments using tools like Dermalyser, which can quickly spot skin cancer. Devices that track patients’ health remotely will work with AI to catch problems early, helping manage chronic illnesses like diabetes or heart disease before they get worse. AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants will offer mental health support 24/7, making care easier to access and less intimidating.

Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring

Digital health technologies like telehealth and remote monitoring have become more important since the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a need for comprehensive home healthcare. Telehealth in 2025 will help people in rural areas get medical care by using devices that patients can wear and sensors at home to keep track of health conditions. This allows doctors to step in early if needed. Specialists will be able to watch over patients in intensive care units from far away through tele-ICU services and provide the necessary care. Virtual consultations help improve the number of patients getting expert advice by letting doctors consult and treat from a distance. Mobile health apps make it easier for patients to find medical information, schedule appointments, and remind them to take their medicine.

Our 2025 Crystal Ball Prediction for Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring: Telehealth and remote patient monitoring will improve healthcare substantially through advanced technology. AI will continue to work with wearable devices, and faster 5G networks will allow doctors to monitor patients and hold virtual consultations with almost no delays, no matter where they are. For mental health, AI-powered tools could analyze speech patterns or daily activity levels using smartphones, helping detect signs of depression or stress before they become serious.

Digital Twin Technology

Digital twin technology helps doctors understand how patients respond differently to treatments. It helps manage chronic conditions and improves how doctors assess risks. Some examples of digital twin technology include models of lungs to help with respiratory care. It uses a mixture of physics, artificial intelligence, and data science to make these models. Another example is 3D-printed models that help surgeons plan and perform surgeries better. The models offer augmented reality, virtual reality, and accurate 3D printed models. The technology lets them see and interact with body parts, which helps improve surgical accuracy.

Our 2025 Crystal Ball Prediction for Digital Twin Technology: Digital twin technology is expected to be a groundbreaking force in healthcare, revolutionizing areas like personalized medicine, clinical trials, and predictive analytics. With advancements in AI and big data, digital twins—virtual replicas of patients, organs, or entire systems—will enable doctors to simulate a person’s unique medical profile to predict disease progression and tailor treatments precisely. Virtual clinical trials will use these models to anticipate patient responses without requiring as many human participants, speeding up the approval of new drugs while cutting costs.

New Trends in Mental Health Support

Improvements in mental health technology help solve problems like not having enough therapists and long wait times, making therapy and counseling more accessible. Over the last few years, there has been a rise in different online mental health platforms, making it easier for patients to get care. Some examples are Betterhelp, an online therapy platform, and Lyf Support App, an Australian startup offering text-based therapy with a licensed psychologist. 

Psychedelic therapy is another new treatment expected to see increased testing and use in 2025. It is used to help with treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and issues with patient engagement. It helps people with PTSD by allowing them to face and work through traumatic events in a safe environment. Psychedelic therapy also improves patient involvement by enhancing treatment outcomes. For example, studies show that psilocybin can help people with depression when other treatments fail, and MDMA-assisted therapy shows potential in reducing PTSD symptoms.

Enosis Therapeutics, an Australian startup, is working to enhance therapy by combining psychedelic treatments with virtual reality (VR). They follow specific clinical methods that include VR scenarios during different stages of psychedelic therapy. This may help to make the therapy more effective for patients.

Our 2025 Crystal Ball Prediction for Mental Health Support: Mental health support will enter a new era of innovation, combining online therapy, psychedelics, and virtual reality (VR) to revolutionize treatment options. Online mental health services will become more personalized, using AI-driven platforms to create tailored care plans. Tools like virtual group sessions and culturally specific programs will make mental health support accessible to people from diverse backgrounds.

Virtual reality will emerge as a powerful tool in mental health care. Exposure therapy, a method used to treat phobias, PTSD, and anxiety, will benefit from VR’s ability to simulate realistic environments in a safe, controlled setting. Psychedelics, like psilocybin or MDMA, will complement traditional methods, particularly for severe treatment-resistant conditions like PTSD or depression. Patients in medically supervised sessions will use these substances alongside therapy, allowing for emotional breakthroughs and deeper healing.

FDA Approvals in 2024–2025

Looking ahead beyond the end of 2024 and into 2025, new treatments and expanded uses for existing drugs are on the horizon that could transform patient care. Here’s a quick look at what the 2025 crystal ball is predicting as major FDA approvals are expected in the coming year, along with their potential benefits:

2024 Approvals

Semaglutide for Sleep Apnea

Semaglutide, approved for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy, and type 2 diabetes under the name Ozempic, might soon become an optional treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Clinical trials showed that people using it had fewer breathing blockages during sleep, with some even having their OSA resolved. If approved, semaglutide would be the first medication approved specifically for OSA.

Nemluvio (nemolizumab) for Moderate-to-Severe Eczema

Initially approved in 2024 to treat prurigo nodularis (an itchy skin condition), Nemluvio works by blocking proteins involved in inflammation. Phase 2 studies have shown that nemolizumab can improve atopic dermatitis and rapidly reduce the associated pruritus. Doctors may begin prescribing it off-label once the next phase in the trials has been completed.

2025’s Crystal Ball Prospects

Ozempic (semaglutide) for Kidney Disease

Ozempic, currently a diabetes medication, may soon help people with diabetes who also have chronic kidney disease (CKD). Trials showed it reduced major kidney issues by 24% and cut the overall risk of death by 20%. The FDA is likely to decide on this expanded use by January 2025.

Leqembi (lecanemab) for Alzheimer’s

Approved in 2023 for Alzheimer’s, Leqembi slows disease progression by targeting harmful brain plaques. It’s currently given as biweekly IV infusions but may soon become available as monthly infusions or weekly at-home injections.

Suzetrigine for Pain Relief

Suzetrigine offers hope for pain sufferers seeking alternatives to opioids. It blocks pain signals without the risks of addiction or drowsiness. If approved, it will be the first new pain medication in decades. It has been granted both FDA Fast Track and Breakthrough Therapy designations, which are reserved for drugs that show promise in treating serious conditions.

Gepotidacin for UTIs

This new antibiotic could treat uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women and teens. Unlike older antibiotics, gepotidacin is effective against bacteria that are resistant to current treatments.

Cardamyst (etripamil) for Heart Rhythm Issues

Cardamyst is a nasal spray designed for sudden, fast heart rhythms called PSVT. Clinical trials showed it could quickly restore a normal heartbeat, helping people avoid hospital trips.

These new technologies, drugs, and vaccines represent significant advances in medicine. From new treatments for chronic illnesses like diabetes and Alzheimer’s to faster, easier options for managing conditions like OSA, cancer, and rare disorders, these innovations could improve millions of lives.

Drugs Being Researched for Off-Label Uses

Metformin

Metformin is being explored for off-label applications beyond diabetes, particularly in managing endocrine disorders and hormonal imbalances and improving insulin sensitivity. Another study discusses emerging and potential new indications for Metformin. Researchers are investigating whether it can help prevent cancer, protect kidneys, treat Alzheimer’s, and improve liver health. They are also examining whether it can help people age healthily. 

SGLT2 Inhibitors

SGLT2 inhibitors like Jardiance are being researched for off-label use for their cardiovascular benefits as well as their ability to reduce painful gout flares.

Colorectal Cancer

A 2023 study found that semaglutide can lower the risk of colorectal cancer, which affects the large intestine or rectum, in people with type 2 diabetes. People taking semaglutide had a 25–44% lower cancer risk compared to those on other diabetes drugs like metformin or insulin. Researchers believe this may be because semaglutide helps control diabetes and obesity, which are linked to higher cancer risks.

Dementia

Studies suggest that people with type 2 diabetes who use semaglutide may have a lower risk of dementia than those given a placebo. Researchers believe the drug might help by improving diabetes, which can harm blood vessels in the brain and increase Alzheimer’s risk. Semaglutide may also reduce inflammation caused by high blood sugar, which can damage the brain.

Substance Addiction

Semaglutide could reduce cravings in people with alcohol use disorder. Researchers think it affects the brain’s reward system, though the exact process is unclear. Further trials are underway to confirm these findings.