A photo of your retina, thirty seconds, and the doctor already knows if your heart is at risk of a heart attack in the coming years, if your biological age is older than your chronological age, if that feeling of "feeling old" has any concrete basis.
A group of researchers from the McMaster University and Population Health Research Institute analyzed retinal scans of 74 people Discovering that the blood vessels in the eye tell stories the rest of the body tries to hide. Few branchings, simplified geometries: it's not just a matter of sight. It's your biological clock speeding up, visible in that tiny network that innervates the retina. And the findings leave no room for doubt.
The retina as a map of the body
“By linking retinal scans, genetics and blood biomarkers, we have discovered molecular pathways that explain how aging affects the vascular system,” explains Marie Pigeyre, associate professor in the Department of Medicine at McMaster and senior author of the study published in Science Advances the 24 October 2025.
The eye offers unique access to the circulatory system. Changes in the retinal vessels mirror those occurring throughout the body, especially in the small vessels. It's a bit like looking through a brightly lit window: you can see what's happening inside without having to go inside.
The researchers analyzed retinal images, genetic profiles and blood samples from four large-scale studies: the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, Genetics of Diabetes Audit and Research Tayside Study, UK Biobank and the study Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiological of the PHRI. The result? Those with fewer branched and simpler retinal vessels are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease. Not only that, these same people show signs of accelerated aging, including increased inflammation and reduced life expectancy.
Biological age and cardiovascular risk: when the blood vessels speak clearly
Today, assessing age-related conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and dementia requires complex test batteries. Researchers hope that retinal imaging can simplify this process., offering a quick and accessible measure of both biological age and cardiovascular risk. Of course, scans are currently only part of the broader clinical picture, but the potential is considerable.
A deeper analysis of blood biomarkers and genetic data revealed biological mechanisms that may be driving these changes.
Several key proteins linked to inflammation and vascular aging have been identified, suggesting new avenues for drug development. Among the most interesting molecules are: MMP12 and IgG-Fc receptor IIb, both associated with age-related damage to blood vessels.
“Our findings point to potential drug targets to slow vascular aging, reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease, and ultimately improve life expectancy,” says Pigeyre.
Old exams, new answers
The beauty of this approach lies in its simplicity. As we have already told youRetinal scans are nothing new. They're already used to diagnose eye problems, but their potential extends far beyond ophthalmology. Previous studies have shown that artificial intelligence can analyze retinal images to predict heart attack and stroke risks within five years. Now we know that these images also reveal how rapidly our biological age is increasing.
The project funding came from Canadian Institutes of Health Research, From 'EJ Moran Campbell Internal Career Research Award of McMaster University and fromEarly Career Research Award Hamilton Health Sciences. Retinal image analyses conducted through CLSA received additional support from an HHS New Investigator Grant.
Biological age and other clues: oculomics searches for clues about the body
This research is part of an increasingly robust trend: theoculomics, the discipline that combines high-resolution imaging of the eye with artificial intelligence to predict diseases that appear to have nothing to do with vision. Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, type 2 diabetes, even some tumors: they all leave an imprint on the retina. And our true biological age, the one that matters more than the years on our ID card, is revealed in the complexity of the vessels that nourish it.
The next step? Making these scans part of routine clinical practice. Not to replace traditional tests, but to complement them with a faster, less invasive, and potentially more accessible tool.
After all, our eyes have always revealed a lot about us. Now they've also begun to reveal how much time we have left.
