Corneal nerve fiber measures and PhenoAge in 84 healthy adults
In 84 clinically healthy adults aged 22–89, older chronological age and higher PhenoAge were associated with lower main corneal nerve fiber measures, most consistently main-fiber density. The abstract calls for longitudinal validation. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Eighty-four clinically healthy volunteers aged 22–89 years underwent corneal confocal microscopy, and PhenoAge was calculated with the Levine algorithm. [1]
Older chronological age and higher PhenoAge were associated with lower main corneal nerve fiber measures, most consistently main-fiber density. [1]
The authors suggest the PhenoAge–main-fiber density association may indicate a systemic biological aging component and state that longitudinal validation is warranted. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Cross-sectional study reported in an abstract.
- Population / context
- 84 clinically healthy adults aged 22–89 years.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- July 6, 2026
PhenoAge and corneal imaging in healthy adults
The study asked whether corneal confocal microscopy (CCM), a noninvasive method for imaging subbasal corneal nerve fibers, relates to biological age beyond chronological age. PhenoAge, described as a validated clinical measure of biological aging linked to morbidity and mortality risk, was calculated with the Levine algorithm. Eighty-four clinically healthy volunteers aged 22–89 years underwent CCM. Associations were tested with Spearman correlations, both eye-specific and using each participant's mean of both eyes.
Supporting source [1]
Lower main-fiber density with older age and PhenoAge
Mean chronological age was 50.8 ± 15.5 years and mean PhenoAge 47.1 ± 16.3 years. No systematic differences between the two eyes were detected (all p > 0.05). Older age and higher PhenoAge were associated with lower main corneal nerve fiber measures, most consistently main-fiber density. In the participant-level sensitivity analysis, both chronological age and PhenoAge were inversely associated with main-fiber length and density (all p ≤ 0.035). In mixed-effects models, main-fiber density was associated with chronological age (β = -0.020/year, p = 0.032) and PhenoAge (β = -0.019/year, p = 0.037).
Supporting source [1]
Aging-related pattern, not proof of cause
The authors describe aging-related patterns of CCM-derived corneal nerve morphology in clinically healthy adults. They suggest the association between PhenoAge and main-fiber density may point to a systemic biological aging component. These are associations in a cross-sectional sample of 84 volunteers; the abstract does not report follow-up. The authors state that longitudinal validation is warranted.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. The design is cross-sectional with 84 volunteers, and the abstract reports no follow-up. Associations are not causal, and the abstract does not establish that PhenoAge predicts outcomes.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Khalatyan AS, Yusef Y, Surnina ZV, Sarkisova KG, Chizhonkova EA, Avetisov KS, Altemirova KK, Machekhina LV, Melnitskaya AA, Strazhesko ID. · europepmc.org · July 6, 2026