The eye has been said to be the window to the soul and it may also offer us a glimpse into human aging.
Retinal scans are a non-invasive, inexpensive test and research points to the
microvasculature in the retina as being a possible indicator of the overall health of the human body's circulatory system as well as the brain.
Aging involves changes within the eye and some of these changes can be related to eye conditions such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy but changes in the eye can also be associated with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's as well as other health conditions.
Retinal scans are more reliable than other forms of testing because changes in the eye are less likely to be influenced by daily fluctuations than biomarkers found in blood which are more dynamic and can be easily changed by factors such as illness or food.
Researchers hope that by utilizing this kind of imaging they can track the efficacy of interventions that are being used to slow the aging process.
