Excess visceral abdominal fat causes inflammatory proteins (interleukin-1 beta) to cross the blood-brain barrier, leading to over-activated microglia (which are usually protective) and impaired cognition.

Caloric restriction, even starting at later age, can prevent cellular aging. 57% of the cellular age-related changes that were found in rats on a normal diet were not seen in 30%-calorie-restricted rats.

Obesity mirrors the effects of aging; it shortens telomeres, causes apoptosis (cell death) in several organs, inhibits autophagy, and speeds up the aging of the immune system.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. RA patients with low serum folate had 50% higher cardiovascular mortality compared to normal folate levels.