The human eye has long been considered a window to the soul, but modern science reveals its potential for being a diagnostic window toward our health. Researchers have already discovered that in the retina – the light-sensitive layer at the back of the human eye – resides an intricate network of blood vessels that can foretell crucial elements about a person's risk to stroke. This finding is a non-invasive and accessible approach to predicting stroke, hence challenging the dependency on the classic risk factors alone, such as high cholesterol or blood pressure. Recent research published in the journal Heart identified a "vascular fingerprint" in the retina, comprising 29 indicators of blood vessel health.

This fingerprint can predict the likelihood of a stroke with accuracy comparable to conventional methods. These indicators include characteristics like the density, twistedness, and complexity of retinal veins and arteries, which mirror the vascular architecture of the brain.

This innovative approach is particularly promising for primary healthcare settings and resource-constrained environments, where invasive lab tests may not be feasible. The potential to assess stroke risk through a simple retinal scan marks a significant leap in preventive medicine.

The researchers, who include those from The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Australia, analyzed fundus images, which are specialized photographs of the retina from more than 68,000 participants in the UK Biobank dataset. Over an average follow-up period of 12.5 years, 749 of those participants had a stroke.

The researchers used advanced machine learning models, such as the Retina-based Microvascular Health Assessment System (RMHAS), to study 30 indicators in five key categories of retinal vascular architecture.

These categories included calibre, which measured the length, diameter, and ratio of veins and arteries; density, which focused on the distribution of blood vessels in the retina; twistedness, analyzing the curvature and patterns of the vascular network; branching angle, which examined how veins and arteries split into smaller branches; and complexity, which evaluated the overall intricacy of the vascular network. In the study, age, sex, socioeconomic status, lifestyle habits, and health parameters, including blood pressure and cholesterol levels, were taken into account to ensure that the findings were robust. The analysis showed that 29 out of 118 retinal vascular indicators are significantly associated with first-time stroke risk.

Changes in density indicators corresponded to 10-19% increased risks of stroke; alterations in calibre indicators were accompanied by a 10-14% increase. Other studies have suggested that decreases in complexity and twistedness indicators corresponded to a 10.5-19.5% higher risk of stroke. These data support the retinal imaging non-invasive diagnostic tool for prediction of early stroke.

Amazingly, the retinal vascular fingerprint alone, in combination with only age and sex, was as good at predicting stroke risk as traditional methods that rely on invasive tests.

How the Retina is Connected to your Brain

Retinal blood vessels bear anatomical and physiological resemblance to those in the brain. Given this, it is an attractive organ for understanding the systemic health of the vasculature. Many diseases, for example, which damage blood vessels throughout the body, leave evidence in the retinal microvascular network. Diabetic retinopathy and hypertensive retinopathy are examples.

The study does have several limitations with this being an observational research, and so it cannot claim to establish any cause-and-effect relationships. The research was also primarily conducted on whites, which makes the findings a little less generalizable to a diverse population. Future studies would be better in including a range of ethnicities and exploring the risk of stroke associated with the type of stroke.

Simple Method To Detect Stroke Risk

Traditional stroke risk assessment is often confined to blood studies and imaging studies; however, these tools are not freely available in some low-resource settings. Retinal photography provides a completely non-invasive imaging modality. All that will be needed will be a basic photograph of an eye.

It is, therefore, through the introduction of artificial intelligence that has been a game-changer in retinal imaging. Systems like RMHAS rely on machine learning to pick out patterns and biomarkers that the human eye might not identify. Such improvements not only enhance predictive accuracy but also speed up the process while making it more cost-effective.

Also Read: 3 Shocking Stroke Risk Factors You Need To Control NOW

Prevention of Stroke through Early Detection

Stroke is one of the leading global health concerns, causing nearly 100 million cases a year and killing 6.7 million people. The majority of the cases are due to modifiable risk factors, including high blood pressure, poor diet, and smoking. The early warning system could help individuals and healthcare providers act proactively on these risks by providing an early warning system.

The discovery of the vascular fingerprint of the retina as a predictor of stroke risk is a testament to the power of innovative diagnostics. This non-invasive, accessible method may revolutionize stroke prevention, especially in underserved communities. As research continues to refine this approach and broaden its applicability, the eye may soon become an essential tool in safeguarding our brain health.

Every Day Tips to Prevent Stroke and Detect Risks Early

The good news is that strokes can be prevented in most cases by living a healthy lifestyle, coupled with knowing the early warning indicators. Implement these tips daily and prevent your risk for stroke before it gets too late.

- High blood pressure is one of the leading risk factors for stroke. Uncontrolled hypertension can weaken blood vessels, making them more prone to rupture or blockage. Invest in a home blood pressure monitor to check your readings regularly. Maintain a target of 120/80 mmHg by reducing salt intake, staying physically active, and adhering to prescribed medications.

- Unhealthy eating habits, such as diets with high levels of processed foods, saturated fats, and cholesterol, can lead to obesity and blocked arteries. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats is key. Include leafy greens, berries, nuts, and fish high in omega-3s, which help maintain cardiovascular health.

- Regular physical activity lowers the risk of high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes, three leading causes of stroke. Try to engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week. Examples include brisk walking, cycling, or swimming. Also incorporate strength training to help strengthen your blood vessels.

- Smoking harms your blood vessels, promotes blood clots, and reduces the oxygen in your blood. Overconsumption of alcohol can raise your blood pressure and lead to weight gain. Quit smoking with support groups, counseling, or nicotine replacement therapy. Limit your intake of alcohol to moderate levels; that is, one drink a day for women and two for men.

- Unmanaged conditions, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and atrial fibrillation, significantly increase stroke risk. Work with your healthcare provider to monitor and manage these conditions. For example, maintain blood sugar levels within target ranges for diabetes and take anticoagulants if diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.

- Obesity strains the cardiovascular system and increases the risk for stroke. Have a healthy diet along with regular exercise to have a sustainable weight loss. Small, consistent changes in, say, portion control or simply not having too many sugary drinks may make a big difference.

- As a result of this, dehydration could thicken blood, then clots might form. Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water per day. Include hydrating foods like cucumbers and watermelon in your diet, especially during hot weather or exercise.

- Poor sleep quality increases blood pressure, triggers inflammation, and raises stroke risk. Ensure 7-8 hours of sleep at night. Develop a bedtime routine: reduce screen time, have a regular schedule, and avoid caffeine close to bedtime.

- Acting fast during a stroke can prevent long-term damage and save lives. Learn the FAST acronym:

F: Face drooping

A: Arm weakness

S: Difficulty speaking T: Time to call 911

- Regular medical check-ups can identify and manage stroke risk factors before they lead to a stroke. Make an annual physical to track cholesterol, blood pressure, and other essential health markers. If you have a family history of stroke, discuss retinal imaging or carotid artery screening with your physician.

Retinal vascular fingerprints predict incident stroke: findings from the UK Biobank cohort study. Heart. 2025

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a condition that is hereditary and causes nerve cells in specific parts of the brain to slowly deteriorate and die. The disorder affects regions responsible for controlled and intentional movements, as well as those tied to mood, thinking, and personality. People with HD often develop jerky, dance-like body movements known as chorea, along with unusual postures and emotional or cognitive changes. For instance, they may experience sudden, uncontrollable motions in their hands, feet, face, or torso. These movements tend to worsen when the person feels anxious or distracted, and as the disease advances, they become more frequent and harder to manage.

Is Huntington’s Disease Genetic?

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders, Huntington’s disease is passed down genetically from parent to child. It follows an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern, meaning that only one copy of the faulty gene is enough to cause the illness. If a parent carries the gene, every child has a 50 percent chance of inheriting it. As it is known to be dominant, just one altered gene from either parent can trigger the disease.

The institute further explains that children who do not receive the mutated gene will never develop HD and cannot pass it on to their own children.

What Causes Huntington’s Disease?

Huntington’s disease stems from a mutation in the HTT gene. This defect creates an abnormal stretch in the DNA sequence, called an expanded CAG repeat. The mutation leads to the production of a faulty version of the huntingtin protein, which contains an excessively long polyglutamine chain.

Over time, this unstable protein builds up in the brain and damages nerve cells. As the mutation is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, one copy of the defective gene is enough to cause the disorder.

Huntington’s Disease Can Now Be Treated With Gene Therapy

A new gene therapy treatment has shown promise in slowing the course of Huntington’s disease, marking what could be the first meaningful advance against this inherited brain disorder. In a recent clinical trial involving 29 patients in the early stages of HD, those who received a single, high-dose infusion of the therapy directly into the brain experienced a 75 percent slower progression over three years compared with the control group.

The results, shared by the Amsterdam-based gene therapy company uniQure, were considered statistically significant across several clinical measures. Researchers also found lower levels of a harmful protein linked to brain cell damage in the spinal fluid of participants who received the treatment. Encouraged by these results, uniQure has announced plans to seek regulatory approval next year.

“This gene therapy represents a major step forward,” said Dr. Sandra Kostyk, a neurologist at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and one of the study’s investigators. “The data are encouraging.”

She added that while slowing the illness could mean more years of independence for patients, it is not a cure. Because of the small number of participants, more research and long-term follow-up are still needed.

Huntington’s Disease Symptoms You Need to Be Aware Of

People with Huntington’s disease often lose control over their voluntary movements, which can affect daily functioning more severely than the involuntary jerks caused by chorea. Difficulties with voluntary movement can make it harder to work, communicate, and maintain independence.

According to the National Health Service, early signs may include trouble focusing or organizing tasks, forgetfulness, irritability, impulsive behavior, and changes in mood such as depression or anxiety. Other symptoms include small, uncontrollable jerks or twitches, clumsiness, and problems managing muscles.

Interestingly, symptoms can appear at any age but most often begin in a person’s 30s or 40s. When it develops before the age of 20, it is called juvenile Huntington’s disease. In such early-onset cases, symptoms may differ and the illness usually progresses more rapidly.

Health experts are raising alarms over a disturbing new trend in which drug users exchange blood to experience a shared high. Known as “bluetoothing,” this new practice is driving a sharp increase in HIV infections in regions such as Fiji and South Africa. Doctors warn that the recent rise in reported cases may only reveal a fraction of the potential damage linked to this dangerous act, which is also called “hotspotting.” But what exactly is behind this risky phenomenon, and why is it spreading?

What Is Bluetoothing and How Is It Linked to Rising HIV Cases?

Bluetoothing is a hazardous street practice where a person injects a potent drug such as heroin or meth, then withdraws a small amount of their own blood, now mixed with the drug, into a syringe and injects it into someone else to share the high. This process can continue from one person to the next, often using the same needle.

According to Brian Zanoni, a professor at Emory University who has studied drug-injecting behavior in South Africa, “it’s a cheap way to get high, but it comes with serious consequences as you’re essentially getting two doses for the price of one.” However, experts note that the effectiveness of this method is uncertain. Some believe the secondary injection produces only a mild high, while others argue it is just a placebo affect.

Why Is Bluetoothing So Dangerous for Health?

The idea of passing around drug-laced blood is so shockingly unsafe that for years, health professionals questioned whether it actually happened. Yet even if practiced by a small number of people, it can rapidly spread bloodborne diseases like HIV and hepatitis, prompting calls for an urgent public health response.

In Fiji, authorities have identified bluetoothing as a key factor behind an alarming rise in HIV rates. According to UNAIDS data, new HIV infections there increased tenfold between 2014 and 2024, leading to an official outbreak declaration in January.

About half of newly diagnosed individuals receiving antiretroviral treatment in Fiji reported contracting HIV through needle sharing, though it remains unclear how many knowingly exchanged blood. Most of these new cases were among people aged 15 to 34.

How Dangerous Is HIV and What Are Its Stages?

Without treatment, HIV gradually weakens the immune system, making the body vulnerable to serious infections. Over time, untreated HIV can develop into acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The progression of HIV occurs in three key stages for people who are not on treatment:

Acute HIV Infection

This first stage usually appears two to four weeks after exposure. Many people experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, rash, and headache. During this phase, the virus multiplies quickly and attacks the immune system’s CD4 cells, leading to a very high viral load and increased risk of transmission.

Chronic HIV Infection

In this second stage, the virus continues to replicate at low levels. People often do not show symptoms, but without antiretroviral therapy (ART), this stage can advance to AIDS within a decade or sooner. With proper treatment, individuals can live in this stage for many years.

AIDS

The final and most severe stage occurs when the immune system is badly damaged. The body becomes unable to fight off infections and certain cancers. A diagnosis of AIDS is made when CD4 counts fall below 200 cells/mm³ or specific infections appear. At this stage, the viral load is high and transmission risk increases sharply. Without treatment, life expectancy is typically around three years.

Since “bluetoothing” is not a wireless or digital act but an extreme form of intravenous drug use, protection begins with avoiding environments where it might occur. The safest approach is never to start injecting drugs. Acknowledge that this practice is real and extremely dangerous, rather than dismissing it as an online rumor, especially in communities where drug abuse and poverty are common.

Scientists at Northwestern Medicine have made a major discovery: a much better and faster way to help bones heal. They wrote about their work in the science journal Nature Communications. We have always known that the loss of bones and teeth can be a permanent one, while we have artificial methods to fix the irregularities, we can no longer grow this tissue back.

However, this new method is very exciting because it could totally change how doctors create implants, the plates, screws, or replacement parts used in surgery. The main goal is to improve healing by getting the body to use its own natural tools to repair itself.

Can We Regrow Our Bones?

Guillermo Ameer, ScD, the lead researcher, believes this technique could revolutionize surgeries for bones and joints, (orthopedic) and for the face and skull (craniofacial). Instead of just being a passive structure, these new implants actively encourage healing using the body's own cells and repair mechanisms.

Dr. Ameer noted that damage from injuries is very common. Usually, doctors put in artificial materials like metal or plastic to fill the gap. He explained that their work, called regenerative medicine, is focused on helping the body regrow its own natural tissue to fix the damaged area permanently.

Can We Use Cells To Rebuild Bones?

Dr. Ameer’s team had previously developed a unique implant. Its surface isn't smooth; it has tiny, engineered micropillars (small bumps). When special repair cells called mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) stick to the implant, these tiny bumps physically push on and change the shape of the cell's center, called the nucleus.

The big new finding from this latest study is that these cells—whose nuclei have been squished—start to release special healing proteins. These proteins actively promote bone growth in other nearby cells, not just the ones touching the implant.

How Can You Regrow Bones?

In their most recent experiment, the scientists watched closely to see exactly how the new implants caused bone to grow. They found that when the MSCs had their nuclei changed by the micropillars, they quickly increased their release of proteins that organize the extracellular matrix (ECM). Scaffolding is the process of construction where a temporary structure is made to support the workers while they do the construction. The ECM is basically the natural, supportive scaffolding around all tissues in the body

This newly organized scaffolding then tells other nearby MSCs to start making bone, even if they aren't directly on the implant. It's like a secret instruction being passed through the structural environment.

To test this in a real situation, the team placed the micropillar implants into mice with small holes in their skull bones. They saw that the cells on the implants made much more of a key protein called collagen, which is the main building block of bone structure. The result was significantly faster and better bone healing in the injured area.

What Is Cellular Communication?

These results show a special way cells talk to each other, called matricrine signaling. Instead of using direct contact or typical chemical messages, cells influence their neighbors by changing the extracellular matrix which is the scaffolding around them.

Dr. Ameer explained that when a cell's nucleus is deformed, its internal structure is rearranged. This makes the cell favor the production and release of proteins that tell other cells, "Start making bone!" He clarified that these released proteins actually change the environment (the matrix) surrounding nearby cells, instructing them to support new bone growth. This discovery opens up huge possibilities for designing implants that don't just act as supports, but actively guide and speed up the natural healing process.

Dr. Ameer also mentioned that this idea might be useful for repairing other tissues in the future, such as cartilage.

He stressed that losing cartilage, particularly in conditions like arthritis, is a major issue because the body has trouble regrowing it on its own. He noted that his team is already working on ways to use 3D printing to apply a similar strategy and help the body regenerate damaged cartilage.