Polygenic risk scores (a score for disease risk) found that higher blood pressure and obesity are causally related to shorter lifespan. High blood pressure and obesity have a heritable aspect, but can be controlled.

Mice with extra long telomeres lived 13% longer, as well as had less cancer and delayed metabolic aging. Telomeres are the caps on the ends of chromosomes, which are a marker of aging.

A study in mice found that high sodium diets led to impaired cognitive function by depleting nitric oxide. Low nitric oxide levels can cause changes to the protein tau, which contributes to dementia.

The protein PERMIT plays a role in recycling dysfunctional mitochondria, which can lead to aging-related diseases. Aging mitochondria become leaky, which leads to reactive oxygen species.