Retinal scans are already being used to screen for diabetic retinopathy, however, new research suggests they offer so much more potential in terms of disease detection. In fact, these diagnostic tools help detect the earliest vascular changes linked to prediabetes and full-blown metabolic dysfunction — long before typical symptoms appear.
But this screening tool is not just for diabetes; it’s useful for detecting neurodegenerative damage as well, meaning a simple eye scan could detect Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia in their earliest stages.
Researchers have also used artificial intelligence (AI)-powered analysis to detect subtle patterns in the retina that even experienced specialists might miss. These discoveries highlight a major shift in disease screening, offering an early warning system to help identify at-risk individuals years in advance.
Retinal Imaging Could Revolutionize Disease Detection
A recent study published in the Nature Communications journal examined retinal imaging to detect early signs of systemic diseases, including Type 2 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and dementia. The researchers analyzed over 50,000 eyes using AI to map patterns that could indicate these underlying health issues.1,2
They focused on the retina’s structural integrity, particularly retinal thickness, and how it correlates with various metabolic, inflammatory and neurodegenerative markers. The data revealed that subtle changes in retinal layers were strongly linked to conditions affecting the brain and vascular system.
One of the most striking findings was the relationship between retinal thinning and cognitive decline — individuals with thinner retinal nerve fiber layers were significantly more likely to develop neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s. According to the study’s lead author Dr. Vicki Jackson:
“This research underscores the potential for retinal thickness to act as a diagnostic biomarker to aid in detecting and tracking the progression of numerous diseases. We can now pinpoint specific locations of the retina which show key changes in some diseases.”3
The biological mechanisms behind these findings revolve around the retina’s structure — it’s the only place in your body where blood vessels and nerves can be directly observed without surgery or invasive procedures. Hence, any disruptions in blood flow, nerve function or metabolic activity will often present in the retina first, making it an ideal candidate for disease screening.4
In addition, the retina is an extension of your central nervous system; when it starts to deteriorate, it mirrors the same pathological processes occurring in the brain. Simply put, if your retina is shrinking, your brain function could be at risk as well.5
“We’ve shown that retinal imaging can act as a window to the brain, by detecting associations with neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis and many other conditions. Our maps’ fine-scale measurements reveal critical new details about connections between retinal thinning and a range of common conditions,” Jackson said.
Eye Scans Reveal Early Signs of Metabolic Disorders and Vascular Diseases
The study also examined the role of metabolic dysfunction in detail, uncovering clear links between retinal abnormalities and metabolic disorders, including diabetes. This condition, which affects over 37 million Americans today and nearly 1 in 5 cases going undiagnosed,6 progressively damages blood vessels, including those in the retina, and leads to vision loss if untreated. In fact, diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide.
The researchers found that individuals with diabetes or prediabetes exhibited distinct changes in their retinal structure, even before they developed noticeable symptoms of diabetic retinopathy. This suggests that retinal imaging could become an early warning system for metabolic dysfunction, allowing you to take preventative steps before irreversible damage occurs.7
“We illustrated that the retina has unique metabolic sensitivities, with RT [retinal thickness] associated with multiple systemic metabolic diseases, and metabolites previously implicated in several retinal diseases,” the researchers said.
However, the study found that even people who had not yet developed retinopathy still showed early warning signs in their retinal scans. This suggests that doctors could begin monitoring metabolic health with a simple, non-invasive eye exam instead of relying solely on blood tests and other traditional screening methods.8
Your Eye Health Could Also Predict Your Risk of Heart, Brain and Nerve Disorders
Vascular health is another important focus of the study. The researchers found that individuals with hypertension and cardiovascular issues displayed changes in the microvasculature of the retina. This is crucial because your retinal blood vessels are a direct reflection of your body’s overall vascular health. Narrowed or damaged blood vessels in your retina often indicate similar issues in the heart and brain, increasing your risk of stroke and heart attack.9
Another important discovery involved multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve signaling in the brain and spinal cord. The study revealed that patients with MS showed distinct retinal thinning, which was proportional to the severity of their condition.
Since MS is notoriously difficult to diagnose, often requiring multiple tests and extensive observation over time, retinal imaging could offer a much faster, non-invasive method to identify early signs of nerve damage.
In neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, protein buildup and inflammation gradually damage neurons in the brain. The same process occurs in the retinal nerve fiber layer.
The researchers observed that individuals with significant retinal thinning also had higher markers of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress — both of which are known contributors to cognitive decline. This means that changes in the retina could serve as an early biomarker for neurodegeneration.
AI-Powered Retinal Scans Could Revolutionize Diabetes and Vascular Disease Screening
The featured study highlights the powerful potential of retinal imaging in disease detection, especially when combined with AI analysis.10 The transformative influence of AI was demonstrated in a 2024 Journal of Personalized Medicine study, which explored how artificial intelligence enhances retinal imaging to detect early signs of diabetes and vascular diseases.11
Focusing on individuals diagnosed with diabetes, prediabetes and other metabolic disorders, they found that AI-powered retinal analysis was able to recognize patterns of microvascular damage with far greater accuracy than standard eye exams, detecting microscopic retinal damage in individuals who had not yet been diagnosed with diabetes.12
Another key finding was how AI-driven retinal scans could distinguish between different stages of vascular disease, identifying just how far the disease had progressed. This means doctors could track changes in retinal health over time in order to identify those at the highest risk of developing severe complications.
One biological mechanism at play involves how diabetes and vascular disease affect blood flow regulation. The retina relies on a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients, delivered through an intricate network of tiny blood vessels. But when diabetes or vascular disease sets in, these vessels begin to deteriorate, leading to oxygen deprivation and tissue damage.
AI-driven retinal imaging detects these changes by analyzing patterns of blood vessel thinning, leakage, and irregularity, allowing doctors to intervene before serious damage occurs.
AI-Driven Retinal Scans Detect Disease with Unmatched Precision
One of the most impressive aspects of this AI technology is its ability to spot patterns that human specialists oftentimes miss. Traditional methods of detecting vascular damage in the retina rely on human analysis, which is prone to error and inconsistency.
AI, on the other hand, processes vast amounts of imaging data in seconds, recognizing subtle abnormalities with a level of precision that far exceeds human capability. This level of accuracy could make AI-driven retinal imaging a valuable addition to routine health screenings, particularly for high-risk individuals.13
The mechanisms behind these findings lie in how AI processes and interprets retinal data. The model employed in this case used deep-learning algorithms to analyze patterns in retinal images, comparing them to thousands of previously scanned retinas to identify deviations from normal retinal health.
The AI was trained to recognize specific markers of disease, including changes in blood vessel size, shape and structure, as well as variations in retinal layer thickness. These subtle changes are often the earliest indicators of vascular and metabolic disease, making AI-powered scans a highly effective predictive tool.14
“AI can play a crucial role in developing evidence-based treatment guidelines and risk stratification by providing objective disease severity assessments. Beyond image interpretation, AI’s potential extends to assisting with image acquisition (landmark identification and autofocus) and labeling for training purposes.
The future holds even greater possibilities with the integration of data from new imaging techniques,” the researcher said.15
Strategies to Protect Your Eyes and Overall Health
These studies affirm that retinal scans are one of the most effective tools for detecting early signs of diabetes, vascular problems and neurodegenerative disease. If you are at high risk of these conditions, I recommend getting a retinal scan as part of your routine health screenings.
AI-driven retinal analysis offers even greater accuracy, so ask if this technology is available when scheduling your next eye exam.
Early detection gives you more time to take remedial action even before symptoms arise. Key strategies to address root causes such as metabolic dysfunction, poor circulation and chronic inflammation include:
1. Improving your metabolic health by optimizing your carbohydrate intake — If you have insulin resistance or prediabetes, your body is struggling to regulate blood sugar. This leads to vascular damage that shows up in the retina long before a diabetes diagnosis.
Instead of restricting carbs, focus on eating 250 to 300 grams of the right types, such as whole fruits, root vegetables and well-tolerated grains. Avoid processed foods and vegetable oils, which drive inflammation and worsen insulin resistance.
2. Strengthen your circulation with daily movement — Poor blood flow is one of the biggest threats to your retinal and overall vascular health. If your blood vessels are stiff or clogged, your retina won’t get the oxygen and nutrients it needs.
However, you don’t need to run marathons — walking for an hour a day is one of the best ways to improve your circulation. Resistance training and mild cardio also help keep your blood vessels flexible and reduce your risk of vision loss, stroke and heart disease.
3. Prioritize sunlight for cellular energy — Sun exposure plays a key role in stimulating mitochondrial energy production, which is essential for healing and proper function. When mitochondria — your cells’ tiny power plants — fail to produce enough energy, the retina is one of the first areas to suffer. While sun exposure is essential for mitochondrial function and overall health, caution is needed if your diet includes vegetable oils.
These oils, rich in linoleic acid, integrate into your skin cells and make you more prone to sunburn and oxidative damage. If you’ve been consuming vegetable oils, it’s best to limit direct midday sun exposure until you’ve eliminated them from your diet for at least six months. This allows your body to replace damaged cell membranes with healthier fats, reducing your risk of sunburn and long-term skin damage.
4. Give your energy a boost with methylene blue — Methylene blue, when used correctly, acts as a powerful booster for cellular function. Stick to pharmaceutical-grade methylene blue in capsule or tablet form and use it at a recommended dose of 5 mg once a day. Read “Unlocking the Power of Methylene Blue” for more details.
5. Eliminate hidden sources of vascular damage — Even if you eat well and exercise, hidden toxins could still be damaging your circulation. Vegetable oils rich in linoleic acid and environmental estrogens from plastics are among the biggest offenders; they disrupt your mitochondrial function, weaken your blood vessels and accelerate neurodegeneration.
Swap out seed oils for tallow, ghee or grass-fed butter, avoid processed foods, conventionally-raised chicken and pork, and drink from glass or stainless steel instead of plastic containers.
6. Address nutrient deficiencies — Nutrient deficiencies could play a role in diabetes. For instance, vitamin B6 affects blood sugar regulation through “first responder” beta cells in the pancreas. This means some cases of diabetes may, in fact, be linked to vitamin B6 deficiency or dysfunction.16
Minerals like zinc, magnesium and chromium are also essential for glycemic regulation. For more information, read “US Diabetes Rates Rise to Nearly 1 in 6 Adults.”
