According to scientists at McMaster University and the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI), tiny blood vessels in the retina can reveal information about heart health and the rate of biological aging. The results were published in the journal Science Advances (SciAdv).
Scientists analyzed data from more than 74,000 participants from four large studies: the Canadian Longitudinal Aging Study, the GoDARTS Diabetes Genetics Project, the UK Biobank and the international PURE study. Retinal scans were used in the study.
It has been found that people with simpler and less branched blood vessels in their eyes are more likely to have cardiovascular diseases. This feature is also associated with signs of accelerated aging, such as higher levels of inflammation and reduced lifespan.
Today, assessing the risk of heart attack, stroke or dementia requires a variety of tests. However, the researchers hope that in the future, a simple eye scan will be sufficient to quickly and affordably determine vascular health and biological age. This method currently requires further validation and clinical trials.
An important part of the study involved analyzing blood biomarkers and genetic characteristics of the participants. This allowed scientists not only to establish a link between vascular structure and health, but also to identify proteins involved in the aging process.
Two proteins of particular note were MMP12 and IgG-Fc receptor IIb. They affect inflammation and vascular damage. The authors believe that these molecules could serve as targets for new drugs that could help slow vascular aging and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Translation by Euromedia24.com
