Innovative Method for Diagnosing Aging Through Fundus Analysis
Russian researchers have developed an algorithm that determines a person’s biological age using images of the eye’s retina. This method measures how quickly the body is aging by comparing the calculated age to the chronological age, providing a new tool for early detection of aging processes.
The algorithm was trained on 29,530 retina images from 7,535 individuals, and tested on 14,832 images from 7,416 participants. The average error in age estimation was only 2.5–2.7 years, demonstrating the high accuracy of the method.
Link Between Biological Age, Diseases, and Lifestyle
The study revealed that people with diabetes had a biological age of the retina on average 2.52 years older than their chronological age, indicating accelerated aging processes. Smokers showed an age excess of 0.5 years, while former smokers had an excess of 0.46 years.
Additionally, age-related macular degeneration was associated with a difference of 0.6 years, and cataracts with 1.86 years. These findings highlight the method’s importance in assessing the risk of age-related eye diseases and overall aging.
Potential for Clinical Practice
The developers believe that in the future, a simple retina scan could become a fast and non-invasive way to assess the body’s condition and aging speed. This would allow identification of individuals needing further examination and preventive measures.
The technology could be integrated into outpatient care, improving accessibility and effectiveness of biological aging diagnostics, reducing the burden on healthcare facilities, and speeding up risk group detection.
Scientific and Medical Prospects
The method is based on artificial intelligence and machine learning, opening new opportunities in modern medicine. Such technologies can detect hidden signs of aging at early stages without invasive procedures.
Previous research has identified other ways to protect the body from age-related changes, such as vitamin B3, which supports nerve cell protection. This new approach to aging assessment complements those studies, forming a comprehensive picture of biological aging.
Significance for Society and Healthcare
Considering an aging population and the rise of chronic diseases, implementing this method could help reduce treatment costs and improve quality of life. Early diagnosis of biological aging offers a chance to take timely measures and slow the progression of age-related disorders.
Using the retina-based algorithm will enable medical institutions to work more effectively with patients, plan prevention, and tailor personalized health programs.
Conclusion: Fundus analysis using the new algorithm is becoming an accessible and accurate method for assessing the body’s aging speed, opening the way to personalized medicine and early prevention of age-related diseases.