Specific features of the oldest old from the Longevity Blue Zones in Ikaria and Sardinia
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Human longevity may be found in single individuals as well as in the population as a whole ("population longevity"). Longevity Blue Zones (LBZs), which are areas with an unusually high number of oldest old, have been identified in Sardinia and the Greek island of Ikaria. We compared the lifestyle, health status and some genetic markers of the LBZ populations with those of reference populations from Italy and Greece; the data were extracted from the GEHA database. In the LBZs, the proportion of individuals who never married or were married and still living with their spouse was significantly greater. Nonagenarians males and females with a high self‒perception of optimism and/or a high score for self-rated health were also found in larger proportions in LBZs. Among the variables with lower frequency were the proportion of the widowed, the percentage of subjects who had suffered a stroke and the frequency of Apoε4 and Apoε2 and the TT genotype of FOXO3A gene. Compared to behavioral and health indicators, the impact of genetic factors might be relatively less important in the LBZs. Nevertheless, further research is needed to identify potential epigenetic traits that might play a predominant role due to the interaction between genetics and the human and physical environments.
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Blue Zones share common dietary, lifestyle, and social factors that contribute to the remarkable health and longevity of their residents.
“Despite their diverse cultural and environmental contexts, Blue Zones share common dietary, lifestyle, and social factors that contribute to the remarkable health and longevity of their residents [7,148,149,150,151,152].”
From The Power of Environment: A Comprehensive Review of the Exposome's Role in Healthy Aging, Longevity, and Preventive Medicine-Lessons from Blue Zones and Cilento (2025) · cites this paper as [149]
Ikaria was observed to have a remarkably high life expectancy, with a significant proportion of its population living well into their ninth decade and beyond.
“The Greek island of Ikaria was observed to have a remarkably high life expectancy, with a significant proportion of its population living well into their ninth decade and beyond.”
From The Power of Environment: A Comprehensive Review of the Exposome's Role in Healthy Aging, Longevity, and Preventive Medicine-Lessons from Blue Zones and Cilento (2025) · cites this paper as [149]
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Blue Zones: Centenarian Modes of Physical Activity: A Scoping Review
Herbert, C., House, M., Dietzman, R., Climstein, M., Furness, J. W., & Kemp‐Smith, K. (2022) · Journal of Population Ageing · doi:10.1007/s12062-022-09396-0 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Potential Benefits of Anthocyanins in Chronic Disorders of the Central Nervous System
Panchal, S. K., & Brown, L. (2022) · Molecules · doi:10.3390/molecules28010080 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Protective alleles and precision healthcare in crewed spaceflight
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Najafi, P., & Mohammadi, M. (2024) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph21030365 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Obesity pillars roundtable: Obesity and individuals from the Mediterranean region and Middle East
Bays, H. E., Antoun, J., Censani, M., Bailony, M. R., & Alexander, L. (2022) · Obesity Pillars · doi:10.1016/j.obpill.2022.100013 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Food for healthier aging: power on your plate
Mafra, D., Ugochukwu, S. A., Borges, N. A., Cardozo, L., Stenvinkel, P., & Shiels, P. G. (2022) · Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition · doi:10.1080/10408398.2022.2107611 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Marche, C., Poulain, M., Nieddu, A., Errigo, A., Dore, M. P., & Pes, G. M. (2023) · Nutritional Neuroscience · doi:10.1080/1028415x.2023.2198115 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Self-citationZábó, V., Lehoczki, A., Buda, A., Varga, P., Fekete, M., Fazekas‐Pongor, V., Moizs, M., Giovannetti, G., Loscalzo, Y., Giannini, M., et al. (2025) · GeroScience · doi:10.1007/s11357-025-01780-w · Cited by 14 · see citing works
The vanishing advantage of longevity in Nicoya, Costa Rica: A cohort shift
Rosero‐Bixby, L. (2023) · Demographic Research · doi:10.4054/demres.2023.49.27 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Errigo, A., Dore, M. P., Mocci, G., & Pes, G. M. (2024) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-024-80497-w · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Self-citationSoloski, M. J., Poulain, M., & Pes, G. M. (2022) · Frontiers in Aging · doi:10.3389/fragi.2022.1069415 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Self-citationDefining the Traditional Mediterranean Lifestyle: Joint International Consensus Statement
Sidossis, L. S., Lawson, R., Aprilakis, E., Barata, B. C., Baska, A., Beneka, A., Bird, R., Birrell, F. N., Chatzinikola, C., Chondronikola, M., et al. (2024) · Lifestyle Medicine · doi:10.1002/lim2.115 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Revealing the secrets of Blue Zones
Ulusu, N. N. (2024) · Frontiers in Pharmacology · doi:10.3389/fphar.2024.1428111 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Lessons From the Blue Zones: There is No Silver Bullet (or Magic Pill) for a Long, Healthy Life
Buettner, D. (2025) · American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine · doi:10.1177/15598276251334310 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
The validity of Blue Zones demography: a response to critiques
Austad, S. N., & Pes, G. M. (2025) · The Gerontologist · doi:10.1093/geront/gnaf246 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Self-citationDeeg, D. J. H., van Tilburg, T. G., Visser, M., Braam, A. W., Stringa, N., & Timmermans, E. J. (2024) · The Gerontologist · doi:10.1093/geront/gnae132 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Stay social, stay young: a bioanthropological outlook on the processes linking sociality and ageing
Iannuzzi, V., Narboux‐Nême, N., Lehoczki, A., Levi, G., & Giuliani, C. (2024) · GeroScience · doi:10.1007/s11357-024-01416-5 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Soddu, A., Ballero, M., Porcu, S., Serra, G., Sanna, F., & Puxeddu, M. (2024) · Environments · doi:10.3390/environments11030059 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Han, Y., Zhang, S., He, Y., & Luo, K. (2025) · Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances · doi:10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100776 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Genetic variants associated with longevity in long-living Indians
Pemmasani, S. K., Shakthiraju, R. G., Suraj, V., Bhattacharyya, R., Patel, C., Gupta, A. K., & Acharya, A. (2024) · npj Aging · doi:10.1038/s41514-024-00179-9 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
The jeong and haan of Vincent van Gogh: neuropeptides of bondedness and loss
Lee, S. W., Cullen, K. R., Rim, S.-R., & Toddes, C. (2024) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1432175 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Healthy aging and aging-related kidney diseases: lessons from centenarians
Yamamoto, S., Arai, Y., Kosaka, T., Matsumoto, M., Yamada, R., Yoshikawa, T., & Yanagita, M. (2025) · Clinical Kidney Journal · doi:10.1093/ckj/sfaf284 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Patterns of spatial inequality in China’s longevity population and its socio-economic influences
Yang, M., Wang, Y., Chu, J., Wu, Y., & Zhang, H. (2025) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12889-025-22119-2 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Red zones: the true color behind the myth of blue zones geographic longevity
Raad, J. E., & Sturmberg, J. P. (2025) · Revista de Salud Pública · doi:10.15446/rsap.v27n3.119673 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Longevity, Centenarians, and Lifestyle: Any ‘’Tips’’ to Live Longer?
Vetrani, C., Frias-Toral, E., Annunziata, G., Amatrudo, F., Mayol, D., Suárez, R., Verde, L., Negri, M., Piscitelli, P., Colao, A., et al. (2026) · Current Nutrition Reports · doi:10.1007/s13668-025-00724-2 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
An Emerging Longevity Blue Zone in Sicily: The Case of Caltabellotta and the Sicani Mountains
Errigo, A., Pes, G. M., Caruso, C., Accardi, G., Aiello, A., Candore, G., & Vasto, S. (2025) · Journal of Ageing and Longevity · doi:10.3390/jal5030026 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Self-citationZhdanov, R. I., Khayrullin, R. N., Khalilov, R. I., Eftekhari, A., & Sozinov, A. S. (2023) · Exploration of Medicine · doi:10.37349/emed.2023.00176 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Sandy, D. D., Batista-Ferreira, L., & Rodrigues, B. M. (2023) · Brazilian Journal of Lifestyle Medicine = Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Estilo de Vida · doi:10.61661/bjlm.2023.v2.76 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Exploring juventology: unlocking the secrets of youthspan and longevity programs
Brandhorst, S., & Longo, V. D. (2024) · Frontiers in Aging · doi:10.3389/fragi.2024.1379289 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Association of Genetic Polymorphisms with Longevity in the population of the Sardinian Blue ZonePreprint
Errigo, A., Dore, M. P., & Pes, G. M. (2023) · Preprints.org · doi:10.20944/preprints202309.1070.v1
Self-citationHuman Populations with Extreme Longevities
Pes, G. M., & Poulain, M. (2024) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009007245.018
Self-citationMoreira, J. P. D. S., Rosa, A. P. E., Lima, N. K. D. C., Souza, J. P., & dos Santos, L. L. (2025) · Revista Brasileira de Geriatria e Gerontologia · doi:10.1590/1981-22562025028.240042.en
Perfil epidemiológico de mortalidade de pessoas idosas longevas no município de Ribeirão Preto, SP
Moreira, J. P. D. S., Rosa, A. P. E., Lima, N. K. D. C., Souza, J. P., & dos Santos, L. L. (2025) · Revista Brasileira de Geriatria e Gerontologia · doi:10.1590/1981-22562025028.240042.pt
Epigenetics of life cycle: from prenatal events to aging
Cacabelos, R., Naidoo, V., Cacabelos, N., Tellado, I., & Martínez-Iglesias, O. A. (2025) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-18722-3.00006-2
Role of sex and gender in aging and longevity: State of the art and future perspectives
Candore, G., Accardi, G., Marcon, G., & Caruso, C. (2025) · Institutional Research Information System (University of Udine)
¿Es Galicia una posible zona azul?
Garrido, J. M. F., Conde, M. D. D., & Vázquez, M. Á. Á. (2025) · Revista Española de Geriatría y Gerontología · doi:10.1016/j.regg.2025.101726
Han, Y., Zhang, S., Yan, X., Kun, Z., He, Y., & Luo, K. (2025) · Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances · doi:10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100950
Dharmarajan, T. S. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-53888-9_5-1
How to become a centenarian in four weeks?. Myths and limits of longevity recipes: a critical review
Poulain, M., & Herm, A. (2026) · Minerva Medica · doi:10.23736/s0026-4806.26.09890-3
Self-citationFastame, M. C., Brandas, B., Martis, C., & Pusceddu, S. (2026) · International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology · doi:10.1007/s41042-026-00313-w
Cardiovascular aging through the lens of Blue Zones
Imam, A., Rashidi, O., Apte, A. R. T., Ataran, A., Franco, A., & Javaheri, A. (2026) · The Journal of Cardiovascular Aging · doi:10.20517/jca.2026.01
- Authors
- Poulain, M., Herm, A., Errigo, A., Chrysohoou, C., Legrand, R., Passarino, G., Stazi, M. A., Voutekatis, K. G., Gonos, E. S., Franceschi, C., & Pes, G. M.
- Affiliations
- Tallinn University (EE)
- University of Sassari (IT)
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (GR)
- CHU Dijon Bourgogne (FR)
- University of Calabria (IT)
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità (IT)
- National Hellenic Research Foundation (GR)
- N. I. Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod (RU)
- Corresponding author
- Poulain, Michel
- ORCID
- Venue
- Mechanisms of Ageing and Development
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2021-09
- Volume
- 198
- Pages
- 111543
- ISSN
- 0047-6374 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3181564636
- Cited by
- 54
- References
- 81
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 9
- FWCI
- 2.76
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- Locations
- Mechanisms of Ageing and Development (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- National Hellenic Research Foundation Helios Repository (National Hellenic Research Foundation) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Digital Access to Libraries (Université catholique de Louvain (UCL), l'Université de Namur (UNamur) and the Université Saint-Louis (USL-B)) (submittedVersion)
- Archive of Doctoral Theses and Digital Collections (University of Calabria) (submittedVersion)
- UnissResearch (Università degli Studi di Sassari) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Eesti Teadusagentuur (PRG71)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
- Social Sciences › Demography › Insurance, Mortality, Demography, Risk Management
- Keywords
- oldest old, Ikaria, Sardinia, population longevity, lifestyle, self-rated health, optimism, marital status, stroke, APOE ε4, APOE2, genetic markers, epigenetics
- MeSH terms
- Optimism, Healthy Aging, Genetic Profile, Nonagenarians, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Greece, Health Status, Humans, Italy, Life Style, Longevity, Male, Self Concept, Databases, Genetic, Epigenomics
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