Researchers have identified extraordinarily high rates of longevity among women in Bolotana, a village on the Italian island of Sardinia, suggesting the settlement could become a new Blue Zone. The study, reported by The Independent, reveals that local female residents experience exceptional lifespans compared to national and global averages.
The research was conducted by scientists at the University of Illinois Chicago, a public research institution in the United States. Their analysis showed that women in Bolotana rank second in the world behind Hong Kong for life expectancy at age 70, as well as for the overall probability of reaching 100 years of age.
Dr. Olshansky, a researcher at the University of Illinois Chicago, said that women almost always live longer than men anywhere in the world, but that this pattern was not observed in Sardinia. He noted that this discrepancy was one reason the finding was so unusual, adding that researchers believe this female population lives the longest in the world, or close to it.
Demographic data and centenarian rates
Experts analyzed demographic data for approximately 2,300 current residents of Bolotana. They also examined the life histories of individuals born in the village between 1900 and 1925, a cohort comprising 3,060 people.
Within that birth group, researchers identified at least 38 centenarians who lived to be 100 years old or older. Among women in Bolotana who reached the age of 70, nearly 14 percent lived to celebrate their 100th birthday. By comparison, only about 3.5 percent of 70-year-old women in Italy overall and approximately 3.6 percent in the United States reach 100.
The expected life span for a 70-year-old woman in Bolotana reaches approximately 91 years. Dr. Olshansky said that Bolotana was extraordinary because its extensive documentation allows researchers to accurately evaluate exact ages at birth and death.
Local lifestyle and community ties
Researchers have not yet definitively established the exact causes of the village's longevity, though potential contributing factors include diet, daily physical activity, genetics, and strong social connections. Bolotana is situated in a mountainous region of Sardinia featuring steep streets, where walking is the primary mode of transportation.
Most food consumed by residents is grown locally, including olive oil, which is naturally rich in healthy monounsaturated fats. Olive oil has long been recognized as a cornerstone of the traditional Mediterranean diet, contributing to cardiovascular health.
Families in Bolotana live close to one another, significantly reducing the likelihood of social isolation. Dr. Olshansky described Bolotana as a tight-knit community where people care for one another and move mostly on foot rather than by car. He added that identifying the characteristics underlying this longevity could help people elsewhere adopt them and benefit from the community's values.
Origins of the Blue Zone designation
The concept of a Blue Zone originated directly from demographic studies conducted in Sardinia. In 2004, researchers began marking geographic locations with unusually high concentrations of centenarians using blue circles on maps, giving rise to the term.
Over time, scientists expanded the designation to include other international regions known for exceptional human longevity. These include Okinawa, an island prefecture in southern Japan, and the Nicoya Peninsula, located along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
Brain research into high blood pressure
In separate health developments reported by news agency UNIAN, researchers from the University of São Paulo in Brazil and the University of Auckland in New Zealand have discovered evidence that a specific brain region may trigger high blood pressure. Their findings suggest there may be a way to reverse this biological process.
The study identified the lateral parafacial region of the brain, known as pFL, as a potential driver of biological changes that elevate blood pressure. This brain area is primarily associated with breathing control, specifically powerful exhalations that occur during exercise, coughing, or laughing. However, laboratory tests conducted on rats revealed that the region can also cause blood vessels to constrict.
Scientists indicated that this combination of respiratory control and blood vessel signaling may cause hypertension in certain cases. The discovery could explain why an estimated 40 percent of individuals with high blood pressure continue to experience uncontrolled hypertension despite taking prescription antihypertensive medications.
