It can be used that way, but not always. In fact, traditionally your way is the less common usage.
A path of breadcrumbs leads to the gingerbread house, despite the house not existing because of the path (or a road leading to a house, to get away from witches).
Unless you mean that in medical research it's universally agreed to only use it in that way? I'm sceptical that's the case but could be convinced...
(Either way, "lead to" obviously isn't at all clear enough if they did intend to mean "points towards, without causation".)
A path of breadcrumbs leads to the gingerbread house, despite the house not existing because of the path (or a road leading to a house, to get away from witches).
Unless you mean that in medical research it's universally agreed to only use it in that way? I'm sceptical that's the case but could be convinced...
(Either way, "lead to" obviously isn't at all clear enough if they did intend to mean "points towards, without causation".)