What if a simple eye scan could reveal not just how healthy your heart is, but also how fast your body is ageing? A new study from Canada suggests just that. Researchers have found that examining the tiny blood vessels in your eyes, called retinal scans, could offer a noninvasive peek into your vascular health and biological ageing.
“By connecting retinal scans, genetics, and blood markers, we’ve uncovered ways aging affects the vascular system,” says Marie Pigeyre, Associate Professor at McMaster University’s Department of Medicine. She adds, “The eye gives a unique, noninvasive view of the body’s circulation. Changes in these small vessels often reflect what’s happening throughout the body.”
What the study found
The study analyzed data from over 74,000 participants, combining retinal scans, genetic information, and blood tests. Researchers discovered that people with simpler, less branched blood vessels in the eyes were at a higher risk of heart disease and showed early signs of biological ageing, including higher inflammation and shorter lifespans.
Currently, checking for age-related illnesses like heart disease, stroke, or dementia often requires multiple tests. The hope is that in the future, retinal scans alone could provide quick, accessible insights into both ageing and cardiovascular risk. Pigeyre emphasizes that while the results are promising, more research is needed before this approach becomes a standard health check.
Proteins behind ageing and heart risk
The team also identified two proteins, MMP12 and IgG-Fc receptor IIb that could play a role in vascular ageing and inflammation. “These proteins could be potential targets for drugs aimed at slowing vascular ageing, reducing the risk of heart disease, and possibly improving lifespan,” says Pigeyre.
Study findings
The findings opened a quick, painless eye scan giving doctors early clues about your heart and overall health. With more research and clinical testing, retinal scans could become an easy, preventive tool for detecting heart disease and age-related health issues early.
This study proves how the eyes truly are a window to the body. As science progresses, your vision check could someday reveal more than just your eyesight, it could offer insights into the health of your heart, your blood vessels, and even how fast you’re ageing.