Artificial intelligence has learned to “read” the risk of a heart attack from the retina

Doctors are increasingly calling eyes are the mirror of the body – and not without reason. New research shows that as retina can be predicted not only heart diseasebut also risk of premature death.

How eyes reveal heart attack risk

Scientists from University of Leeds trained the system artificial intelligence analyze retinal images and identify signs of increased risk myocardial infarction. According to the study, the algorithm is capable of accurately up to 80% determine who may have a heart attack within the next year.

The retina is a thin layer of tissue that covers the back of the eye. It consists of photo-sensitive cells and feeds through a complex network of tiny vessels. Any disturbances in this system may reflect the general condition of the blood vessels of the entire body.

An aging retina is a warning sign

Another group of researchers has developed a similar technology that estimates how the “age” of the retina corresponds to a person’s biological age. In half of adults over 40 years of age, the retina was 3 years older of their real age, for 28% – by 5 years, and for 4.5% – even by 10.

The results were alarming: people with older retinas had a higher risk of death over the next 10 years. 49–67%regardless of other factors – gender, age or lifestyle.

Why the eyes speak about the heart

Experts explain: everything that affects the condition of blood vessels – blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, inflammation – also affects the microvessels of the retina. That’s why any vascular defect in the fundus may indicate disorders in the cardiovascular system.

With easy access to visual inspection, the retina has become an ideal tool for early diagnosis of vascular pathologies. Doctors can now detect the risk of heart attack and stroke years before symptoms appear.

Conclusion: Regular eye examination is not only about taking care of your vision, but also a way to detect a threat to life in time. One retinal image can tell a doctor more than a dozen blood tests.

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