Bolotana, Italy, identified as a global center for female longevity

A scientific study published in Frontiers in Aging has identified the village of Bolotana on the island of Sardinia, Italy, as having one of the highest concentrations of female longevity in the world. Researchers found that a woman in Bolotana who reaches age 70 has a 13.83% probability of living to 100, a rate significantly higher than the Italian national average of 3.54% and more than triple the probability seen in the United States.

The study, involving researchers from the University of Sassari and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, utilized centuries of municipal and church records to verify the ages of centenarians. While men in the village also live longer than the national average, they do not exhibit the same extreme longevity patterns as the women.

Scientists suggest several contributing factors, including genetic predispositions, a diet based on locally grown foods like olive oil and vegetables, and high levels of physical activity due to the hilly terrain. The findings suggest that Bolotana may represent a new “blue zone” located outside the traditionally recognized longevity areas of Sardinia.