A recent genetic study published in Science Advances explores the link between inflammation-related proteins and retinal vascular aging, which may indicate cardiovascular disease risk and lifespan. Researchers analyzed data from 74,434 participants, utilizing Mendelian randomization and assessing retinal vascular complexity through fractal dimension metrics. They identified a new genetic locus associated with retinal vascular structure and highlighted specific proteins connecting inflammation to vascular changes. This work suggests that retinal fractal dimension could serve as a noninvasive biomarker for systemic vascular health, though further validation is needed for clinical application.
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