Breakthrough: Surgeon Determines Molecular Age of Eye for the First Time, Leading to Precision Treatments
An Indian-American surgeon and his team have successfully mapped nearly 6,000 proteins from different cell types within the eye using drops of eye fluid obtained during surgery. They created an AI model called the "proteomic clock" that can predict a person's age based on their protein profile. The clock revealed accelerated aging in specific cell types due to diseases like diabetic retinopathy and uveitis. Surprisingly, proteins associated with Parkinson's disease were also detected in the eye fluid, potentially offering a pathway for earlier diagnosis. The findings suggest that organs and cells age at different rates, which could lead to advancements in precision medicine and clinical trial design.