OCT-derived retinal and choroidal parameters as markers of aging: Association with biological age in healthy adults (RussAge Study)

The search for accessible, non-invasive biomarkers to quantify the pace of systemic aging is a key priority in gerontology and personalized medicine. Aim - to evaluate associations between OCT-derived retinal and choroidal morphometric parameters and biological age in healthy adults. Materials and Methods: In the RussAge study, 148 clinically healthy volunteers (296 eyes), aged 22-74 years, underwent macular SS-OCT imaging using the Topcon Triton. Biological age was calculated using the PhenoAge algorithm. Structural changes in the retina and choroid showed concordance with biological age. Most parameters showed strong bilateral symmetry. Aging was associated with pronounced choroidal thinning (up to ~19%) and a moderate decrease in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and the IPL+GCL complex (~5%), whereas INL and ONL+PIS remained relatively stable; similar patterns were observed when modeling biological and chronological age. OCT morphometry - particularly choroidal and inner retinal metrics - reflects systemic aging processes and may serve as non-invasive markers of biological aging.