Scientists have discovered that the way blood vessels are shaped at the back of the eye may be linked to high blood pressure and heart disease. By analyzing genetic data, they identified 119 areas in human DNA that influence the size and shape of these vessels.
Among them, 89 regions were connected to how much the arteries twist. More twisting in these arteries seemed to be linked to higher blood pressure and an increased risk of heart disease.
The study was conducted by researchers from St George’s and other institutions. They used high-resolution images of the retina—the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye—to examine blood vessel patterns. The retina is often called a “window” into the body because its blood vessels can reveal important clues about a person’s overall health.
Previous studies have already shown that changes in these eye blood vessels are associated with health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. However, until now, it was unclear how genetics played a role in determining these blood vessel shapes.
To explore this, the researchers analyzed retinal images from nearly 53,000 people enrolled in the UK Biobank, a large-scale health study. They used artificial intelligence (AI) to examine the images quickly and accurately.
The AI program helped distinguish between arteries and veins and measured their width and the amount of twisting. With this data, the team conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS), which allowed them to compare DNA similarities among people with similar blood vessel structures.
This analysis revealed 119 specific genetic regions linked to different characteristics of the eye’s blood vessels. Most notably, the extent to which arteries twisted and turned was found to be largely influenced by genes.
The researchers also discovered that a higher degree of twisting was associated with high diastolic blood pressure—the pressure in the arteries when the heart is resting between beats. Since high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, these findings suggest that genetic variations affecting blood vessel shape could play a role in cardiovascular health.
Understanding these genetic links is important because it could lead to new ways to detect and treat high blood pressure and heart disease earlier. If certain genetic markers indicate a person is at higher risk, doctors could monitor them more closely and offer early interventions. The researchers believe this study adds an important piece to the puzzle of how blood pressure and heart disease develop.
Blood pressure is a key indicator of heart health, and many factors can influence it. Some recent studies suggest that frequent naps might be linked to higher blood pressure, while drinking beetroot juice could help lower it.
Other research has shown that zinc intake may reduce the risk of death from heart disease, and strict blood pressure control can lower the risk of heart muscle damage.
This study, led by Professor Christopher Owen and his team, was published in PLOS Genetics. The findings highlight the importance of genetic research in understanding health conditions and could lead to better treatments in the future.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more health information, please see recent studies about added sugar in your diet linked to higher blood pressure, and results showing vitamin D could improve blood pressure in people with diabetes.
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