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Eye scans may predict heart disease risk

2025-10-29 08:51:00, Shëndeti CNA

Eye scans may predict heart disease risk

"The eyes are the window to the soul," says an old saying.

They may also serve as a window into a person's heart health, according to a new study.

The tiny blood vessels in a person's eyes could be used to predict their risk of heart disease, as well as whether they are aging at an accelerated rate, researchers reported Oct. 24 in the journal Science Advances.

Researchers said that one day, doctors may refer to retinal scans as part of a regular medical checkup.

"The eye provides a unique and non-invasive view of the body's circulatory system," senior researcher Marie Pigeyre, an associate professor of medicine at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, said in a press release.

Changes in the blood vessels of the retina often reflect changes that occur in all the small vessels of the body.

For the study, researchers analyzed health data from more than 74,000 people who participated in one of four main studies.

People with simpler, less branched blood vessels in their eyes had an increased risk of heart disease, researchers found.

Those people also showed signs of advanced biological aging, including increased inflammation and shorter lifespans, according to the study.

The researchers also found two specific proteins associated with inflammation and blood vessel aging.

"By linking retinal scans, genetics and blood biomarkers, we have uncovered molecular pathways that help explain how aging affects the vascular system," Pigeyre said.

The proteins, MMP12 and the IgG–Fc IIb receptor, may serve as potential targets for future anti-aging drugs.

"Our findings point to potential drug targets for slowing vascular aging, reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease and ultimately improving lifespan," Pigeyre said./ CNA





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