Scientists have uncovered the ability of the retina to predict heart disease

A recent study by scientists at McMaster University and the Institute for Population Health Research (PHRI) has shown that tiny blood vessels in the eyes may be the key to predicting the risk of developing heart disease and how quickly the body's biological aging occurs. This is reported by the Medical Xpress magazine.

The study suggests that retinal scanning may one day become a non-invasive way to assess the general state of the body's vascular system and biological aging, opening up new opportunities for early diagnosis and intervention.

"By linking data from retinal scans, genetics, and blood biomarkers, we have identified molecular pathways that help explain how aging affects the vascular system. The eye provides a unique, non-invasive view of the body's circulatory system. Changes in the retinal blood vessels often reflect changes occurring in all the small vessels of the body," said Marie Pigueire, senior author of the study and associate professor of Medicine at McMaster University.

To conduct the study, scientists combined retinal scans, genetic data, and blood sample analyses from more than 74,000 participants from four large cohorts — the Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging (CLSA), the Diabetes Genetics Study and the Tayside Study (GoDARTS), the British Biobank (UKBB), and the Prospective Urban Epidemiology Study of Rural Areas (PURE) PHRI.

It turned out that people with simpler, less branched blood vessels have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and have signs of biological aging such as increased inflammation and shorter life expectancy.

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This amount will help save the lives of more than 1.2 million people, experts believe.

Currently, multiple tests are required to assess age-related diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and dementia. However, there is hope, which lies in the ability of retinal scanning to become a fast and affordable way to assess aging and the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Although at the moment the full picture requires a more in-depth clinical examination.

Another important aspect of the study was the study of blood biomarkers and genetic data. As a result, scientists have not only identified the connections, but also discovered possible biological causes of changes in the blood vessels of the eyes. This helped them identify specific proteins that may contribute to aging and disease development.

The two most prominent proteins are MMP12 and the IgG—Fc IIb receptor, which are associated with inflammation and vascular aging. According to Piguire, these proteins could become potential targets for future drugs.

"Our results point to potential drugs that can slow vascular aging, reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease, and ultimately increase life expectancy," she says.

The data on blood protein biomarkers were obtained from a promising urban and rural epidemiological study, an important international research initiative led by PHRI.

Earlier, on August 29, Science Daily magazine reported on the dangers of irregular sleep for people with heart disease. It was noted that patients with even moderate sleep irregularity are twice as likely to experience serious complications within six months. According to the publication, it is important to follow a fixed sleep schedule.

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