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The Blue Zones: areas of exceptional longevity around the world

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  • Michel Poulain
  • Anne Herm
  • Gianni Pes

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the level of population longevity and the characteristics of four geographic areas where unusually high proportions of longlived individuals have been observed. For these areas (Ogliastra in Sardinia, Okinawa in Japan, the Nicoya peninsula in Costa Rica and the island of Ikaria in Greece). The term of ‘blue zone’ (BZ) given to these areas is defined as a limited region where the population shares a common lifestyle and environment and whose exceptional longevity has been accurately verified. This paper discusses the use of different indexes to measure the longevity of a population. As a preliminary result of our investigations we confirm the exceptional level of male longevity in the Sardinian BZ and both male and female longevity in Okinawa. Considering possible explanations, we observed that BZ populations are geographically and/or historically isolated (islands and mountainous regions). These populations succeeded in maintaining a traditional lifestyle implying an intense physical activity that extends beyond the age of 80, a reduced level of stress and intensive family and community support for their oldest olds as well as the consumption of locally produced food. This is likely to have facilitated the accumulation of ideal conditions capable of limiting the factors that negatively impact on health in most Western populations. These people experienced the epidemiological transition—and its implications—in relative recent times, and their remarkably good health status during ageing could be the result of a delicate balance between the benefits of the traditional lifestyle and those of modernity (increased wealth, better medical care). All these factors could have promoted an ideal milieu for the emergence of long-lived phenotypes at the population level.

Suggested Citation

  • Michel Poulain & Anne Herm & Gianni Pes, 2013. "The Blue Zones: areas of exceptional longevity around the world," Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, Vienna Institute of Demography (VID) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, vol. 11(1), pages 87-108.
    • Handle: RePEc:vid:yearbk:v:11:y:2013:i:1:p:87-108
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    1. Michel Poulain, 2011. "Exceptional Longevity in Okinawa:," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 25(7), pages 245-284.
    2. Poland, Blake & Coburn, David & Robertson, Ann & Eakinand members of the Critical Social Science Group, Joan, 1998. "Wealth, equity and health care: a critique of a "population health" perspective on the determinants of health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 46(7), pages 785-798, April.
    3. Luis Rosero-Bixby, 2008. "The exceptionally high life expectancy of Costa Rican nonagenarians," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 45(3), pages 673-691, August.
    4. Luis Rosero-Bixby & William H. Dow & David H. Rehkopf, 2013. "The Nicoya region of Costa Rica: a high longevity island for elderly males," Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, Vienna Institute of Demography (VID) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, vol. 11(1), pages 109-136.
    5. Cockerham, William C. & Hattori, Hiroyuki & Yamori, Yukio, 2000. "The social gradient in life expectancy: the contrary case of Okinawa in Japan," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 115-122, July.
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    2. Francesco Tolu & Mario Palermo & Maria Pina Dore & Alessandra Errigo & Ana Canelada & Michel Poulain & Giovanni Mario Pes, 2019. "Association of endemic goitre and exceptional longevity in Sardinia: evidence from an ecological study," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 405-414, December.
    3. Maria Chiara Fastame & Marilena Ruiu & Ilaria Mulas, 2022. "Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being in Late Adulthood: Lessons From Sardinia’s Blue Zone," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 713-726, February.
    4. Julian M. Saad & James O. Prochaska, 2020. "A philosophy of health: life as reality, health as a universal value," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 6(1), pages 1-11, December.

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