They say the eyes are the window to the soul… but they're actually more like a mirror of our health! Indeed, recent studies show that observing the eye can give us a general idea of a person's state of health: for example, a accumulation of amyloid protein in cells in contact with the optic nerve would be a good indicator of Alzheimer's disease, while abnormal eyeball movements would more likely indicate the onset of Parkinson's disease.
A study adds a new diagnostic function: studying the vascularization of the retina could reveal whether the cardiovascular system is functioning normally or not. Published on October 24, 2025 in the journal Science Advances Conducted by researchers from the University of Edinburgh (Scotland) and McMaster University (Canada), this study goes even further, revealing the molecular mechanisms that explain this link between the retina and health. This analysis of the retina could even determine if a person is at risk of premature aging.
Looking at the retina to see the state of health
This approach relies on analyzing the network of small blood vessels that supply the retina. The denser and more complex this network, the more efficient the vascularization of this organ, and the more it reflects a healthy cardiovascular system. Previous studies had indeed shown that aging causes a decrease in this vascular density, and that a low density of this network is associated with age-related diseases, such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cognitive decline.
The vascularization of the retina reflects the health of the cardiovascular system
But is this association solely due to the fact that a person ages and their entire body deteriorates, or are there stronger causal links between overall health and retinal health? To determine this, researchers studied the links between genetics and retinal vascular density, closely analyzing the genomes of more than 70,000 people for whom they also had images of this organ. This analysis highlighted eight genetic mutations that appear to influence the vascularization of this organ. Physiologically, these mutations would alter the expression of several genes, according to the researchers' analysis. This effect was then verified by analyzing the blood concentration of proteins encoded by these genes.
Thus, they showed that genetic mutations associated with the level of retinal vascularization modulated the concentration of proteins linked to inflammation, cardiovascular health, and aging. Further analysis then elucidated the molecular mechanisms by which these proteins affect health, demonstrating a causal relationship.
The retina is a mirror of our aging
These results show two things: first, that the proteins that influence the vascularization of the retina also play an important role in the overall health of the individual, and that an abnormal decrease in the vascularization of the retina can be a good indicator of a disturbance at the level of these proteins and therefore of the inflammatory state of the body, and more specifically of the cardiovascular system.
Therefore, given the link between inflammation and aging, studying the blood vessels of the retina could reveal whether a person has an increased risk of premature aging, is more likely to develop age-related diseases, and thus whether their life expectancy might be reduced. This approach would provide valuable insight into a person's future health simply by looking into their eyes.
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