Die winzigen Blutgefäße in den Augen, die durch einen Netzhautscan untersucht werden, könnten der Schlüssel zur Vorhersage des Risikos einer Person für die Entwicklung einer Herzerkrankung und der Geschwindigkeit ihres biologischen Alterns sein

>To conduct the study, researchers combined retinal scans, genetic data and blood sample analyses from over 74,000 participants across four major cohorts: the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), the Genetics of Diabetes Audit and Research Tayside Study (GoDARTS), the UK Biobank(UKBB), and the PHRI Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study.
>
>**They found that people with simpler, less branched blood vessels were at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and showed signs of biological aging, such as higher inflammation and shorter lifespan.**

>Another important aspect of the study came from reviewing blood biomarkers and genetic data: Researchers uncovered not just associations, but potential biological causes behind changes in the eye’s blood vessels. This helped them identify specific proteins that may drive aging and disease.
>
>Two of the more notable proteins are **MMP12 and IgG–Fc receptor IIb — both linked to inflammation and vascular aging**. These proteins could be potential targets for future drugs, Pigeyre says.
>
>“Our findings point to potential drug targets for slowing vascular aging, reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases, and ultimately improving lifespan,” she says.

[Mendelian randomization study implicates inflammaging biomarkers in retinal vasculature, cardiovascular diseases, and longevity | Science Advances](https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adu1985)