A groundbreaking study, published on January 24 in Science Translational Medicine, has revealed the retina’s extraordinary role as a predictor of future health risks.
This collaborative research by Mass Eye and Ear, a member of Mass General Brigham, and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, has combined retinal imaging, genetics, and big data to foresee the likelihood of developing both eye and systemic diseases.
The study’s significant finding is the correlation between the thinning of various retinal layers and an increased risk of several diseases, including ocular, neuropsychiatric, cardiac, metabolic, and pulmonary conditions.
Additionally, the researchers have pinpointed specific genes linked to the thickness of retinal layers.
First author Seyedeh Maryam Zekavat, MD, Ph.D., from Mass Eye and Ear and a graduate student at Broad, emphasizes the potential of retinal images in predicting future risks of diseases like glaucoma and cardiovascular conditions. This opens doors to early interventions and preventative treatments.
Retinal imaging, a non-invasive and routine procedure in ophthalmology, provides an easily accessible window to overall health.
The study’s findings enhance the possibilities for preventative medicine, bridging the gap between ophthalmology and other medical fields.
Previous research has linked retinal health to various conditions, including aging, diabetes, hypertension, dementia, stroke, and multiple sclerosis.
Senior author Nazlee Zebardast, MD, MSc, highlights the untapped wealth of information available from retina images, useful in diagnosing systemic conditions at both genetic and epidemiologic levels.
The research involved analyzing data from 44,823 UK Biobank participants who had undergone optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging of the retina, genotyping, and baseline health measurements in 2010. They were then monitored for disease development over an average of ten years.
This study goes beyond previous research by focusing on the specific cell layers of the retina, each associated with different conditions.
Zebardast, also an associated scientist at Broad, points out the uniqueness of each retinal layer, composed of varied cell types with distinct structures and functions.
The research team, including co-first authors Drs. Seyedeh Maryam Zekavat and Saman Doroodgar Jorshery, identified 259 genetic loci associated with retinal thickness.
This understanding of the genes and biological pathways that influence retinal health could pave the way for future therapeutic developments.
In conclusion, this study significantly advances our understanding of the retina’s role in overall health, offering a promising avenue for early detection and prevention of a range of diseases, based on retinal imaging and genetic analysis.
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The research findings can be found in Science Translational Medicine.
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