Consistent with the role of p16INK4a in aging and age‐related pathologies, GWAS have demonstrated a strong association of the CDKN2A/B locus with multiple pathologies such as cardiovascular diseases including coronary artery disease (CAD), myocardial infarction, aneurysms, peripheral artery disease, and heart failure, in addition to other diseases such as glaucoma, type 2 diabetes, and various forms of cancer (Hannou et al., 2015; Kong et al., 2016). This evidence concerns the gene CDKN2A and type 2 diabetes mellitus.