Your Eyes Can Reveal Your Age and Disease Risk

A group of academics from Stanford University modified a method that is typically applied to the examination of ocular fluid. A total of 26 of the proteins that were shown to be associated with eye aging were among the almost 6,000 that were discovered in the fluid that was removed from the eye. After establishing their so-called ‘eye-aging clock,’ scientists investigated the ways in which particular eye illnesses may speed up the aging process in cells. Eye fluid taken from 62 people suffering from a variety of eye diseases was subjected to further testing and analysis. Impressive!

At the molecular level, patients present different manifestations even with the same disease; […] With a molecular fingerprint like we’ve developed, we could pick drugs that work for each patient, explained Vinit Mahajan, an ophthalmologist at Stanford University.

The scientists used a technique dubbed TEMPO (tracing expression of multiple protein origins) to track the afflicted proteins all the way down to the RNA (ribonucleic acid) that was responsible for their creation. This technique allowed them to identify the problematic cells that are the root cause of these disorders. It was also accomplished with the assistance of a machine learning algorithm that was trained on the ocular fluid of 46 healthy people, and the ages of these patients were able to be cross-referenced. In subsequent testing, the AI demonstrated the ability to determine an individual’s age via their eye fluid within a few years’ margin of error.

This is what the researchers found out.

It was discovered that the cells responsible for each disease are distinct from one another, and they are not necessarily the cells that are the most apparent choice for therapies to target. As a result, scientists may now have access to novel therapy objectives when they involve addressing issues of this nature. In addition, the researchers believe that the improvements that they have shown here might work with different kinds of physiological fluids, which would provide specialists with useful indicators that they can use to treat diseases and possibly even prevent the onset of diseases.

Georgia Nica

Georgia delves into a myriad of topics that promote a holistic approach to well-being. Her passion for the subject matter shines through in her well-researched and engaging articles that not only inform but inspire readers to prioritize their health. Georgia’s dedication to factual, clear, and insightful storytelling is a perfect match for the ethos at GreatLakesLedger.com, making her a valuable addition to our diverse team of writers.