Bolotana, Sardinia, identified as potential new Blue Zone for longevity

Researchers from the University of Illinois Chicago have identified the Sardinian village of Bolotana as a potential new ‘Blue Zone’ due to the exceptional longevity of its female residents. According to a study published in Frontiers in Aging, women in Bolotana who reach the age of 70 have a 13.8% probability of living to 100. This rate is significantly higher than the national averages in Italy (3.5%) and the United States (3.6%).

Data from municipal records show that between 1900 and 1925, 38 of the 3,060 people born in the village reached centenarian status. Local officials, including Mayor Francesco Manconi, attribute this longevity to a combination of lifestyle factors, such as a diet rich in cereals and vegetables, pristine natural environments, and high levels of physical activity, including walking long distances daily.

While Sardinia has been recognized since 1999 for its high concentration of male centenarians, this research highlights a similar phenomenon among women in the Marghine mountain range area. Bolotana joins a small group of globally recognized Blue Zones, which include locations in Japan, Costa Rica, Greece, and California.