What began as a National Geographic expedition led by Dan Buettner to uncover the secrets of longevity evolved into the discovery of the five places around the world where people consistently live over 100 years old, dubbed the Blue Zones. This 2016 article by Buttner explains his journey and findings.
Deeper dive
As of April 2023, the average life expectancy in the U.S. was 76.4 years, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. So why do some people routinely remain healthy well into old age, living to 90, 100 or beyond with few serious problems? Why does it occur more often in some population pockets throughout the world and not others? Researchers have long sought to find the answers in these communities, known as blue zones.
According to the World Economic Forum, there were more than half a million centenarians around the world in 2020. The U.S. is home to the highest number of people over 100, about 97,000, although Japan has the highest rate of these elders, at 0.06% of the population. Researcher Dan Buettner and colleagues identified five pockets around the world where people live longer and better:
- Barbagia region of Sardinia – Mountainous highlands of inner Sardinia with the world’s highest concentration of male centenarians.
- Ikaria, Greece – Aegean Island with one of the world’s lowest rates of middle age mortality and the lowest rates of dementia.
- Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica – World’s lowest rates of middle age mortality, second highest concentration of male centenarians.
- Seventh Day Adventists – Highest concentration is around Loma Linda, Ca. They live 10 years longer than their North American counterparts.
- Okinawa, Japan – Females over 70 are the longest-lived population in the world.
What is it about these areas that foster ultra-longevity? In his book and subsequent Blue Zones Project, Buettner explained that residents in these parts of the world have nine things in common which may explain it: - They move – they live lives that encourage natural exercise and movement, like walking
- They have a sense of life purpose, which research shows may add years to a person’s life.
- They follow the 80% rule – and stop eating when they feel 80% full.
- They eat a primarily plant-based or Mediterranean diet, with beans or fish as a central source of protein. Meat is eaten rarely and in small portions.
- They know how to de-stress. They use yoga, meditation, prayer, time out, and other methods to shed stress.
- They drink regularly in moderation (except Adventists )– Almost all drink one to two glasses of wine daily. It should be noted that study results and experts disagree on the role of wine in healthy aging.
- They belong to a faith-based community. This was common among nearly all centenarians Buettener interviewed. Research links social connectedness to increased life expectancy
- Loved ones come first – often many generations live together, and families take priority over work.
- They belong to the right tribe, as this Psychology Today story details. That means surrounding themselves with other happy, healthy people.
Buettner’s brother and fellow researcher Tony presented Blue Zone Project’s findings to The Aspen Institute in 2016. By the way, the term “Blue Zones” has no underlying scientific meaning; it was apparently coined when researchers circled the five longevity regions on a map in blue marker.