Canadian researchers have found that scanning the tiny blood vessels in the eyes may help predict a person’s risk of developing heart disease and how fast they’re biologically ageing.The study, published in the journal Science Advances, suggests that retinal scans could one day serve as a noninvasive window into the body’s overall vascular health and biological ageing status, offering new opportunities for early detection and intervention.
“By connecting retinal scans, genetics, and blood biomarkers, we have uncovered molecular pathways that help explain how aging affects the vascular system,” said Marie Pigeyre, Associate Professor at McMaster University’s Department of Medicine in Canada.
“The eye provides a unique, noninvasive view into the body’s circulatory system. Changes in the retinal blood vessels often mirror changes occurring throughout the body’s small vessels,” added Pigeyre.