Blue zones have been celebrated for their longevity secrets, but new research challenges their validity

'Blue Zones' Under Scrutiny: Are these Longevity Hotspots Just a Myth? Discover what experts think of the study and their advice for living longer

Blue zones have been celebrated for their longevity secrets, but new research challenges their validity

• A recent study has found flaws in the blue zone hypothesis, pointing to poor record-keeping and fraud for inflating age demographic data in these regions.
• Blue zones are areas around the world where residents live longer, healthier lives on average.
• Experts say the study makes a good argument, but the health advice from the blue zone lifestyle is largely valid.

For years, “blue zones,” regions around the world where people allegedly live significantly longer than average, have been celebrated as places where people have unlocked the secret to living a healthy life. 

However, a recent study cast doubt on the validity of blue zones, suggesting that longevity in these regions may have less to do with health habits and more to do with poor record-keeping or fraud. While this study—a preprint that hasn't been peer-reviewed—was posted back in March, it’s been gaining attention on social media after study author Saul Justin Newman, a research fellow at the Oxford Institute of Population Aging, won the Ig Nobel Award in Demography, a satirical science award, for this research in September.

So, has the concept of a blue zone officially been debunked? Here’s what you need to know. 

What are Blue Zones?

Blue zones are regions worldwide known for their higher-than-normal percentages of centenarians—those who live to 100 and beyond.

Popularized by Dan Buettner in his 2005 book “The Blue Zones” and later the focus of research in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, the term refers to five areas: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California. 

These areas share nine lifestyle traits that Buettner argued are responsible for their residents’ extraordinary longevity, including eating a plant-based diet, having strong social connections, getting regular exercise, and—most controversially—drinking a daily serving of red wine.

What Did The Blue Zone Study Find?

The new research suggests that these longevity hotspots may not be as extraordinary as they seem. 

Newman analyzed data from towns across the U.S., France, England, Japan, and Italy and found significant problems with age documentation. For example, only 18% of validated supercentenarians had a birth certificate; in the U.S., no supercentenarians had this documentation. “The introduction of state-wide birth certification coincides with a sharp reduction in the number of supercentenarians,” Newman’s study noted.

“This cross-national comparison is really, really important for validation,” Neil Mehta, PhD, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Texas Medical Branch, told Health. “I think the paper nicely showed that where we see high levels of supercentenarians, these are also places where we haven't had good reporting on ages.” 

Newman also raised concerns about fraud in the system. “People were reported as being alive, even though they weren’t, because the family was still collecting pensions on those people,” Brittany Busse, MD, telehealth physician and co-founder of Vitel Health, told Health. Instead of promoting longevity, Newman argued, some supposed blue zones—Sardinia, Ikaria, and Okinawa—are associated with illiteracy, poverty, high crime rates, and short average lifespans. 

Though the study is a preprint and hasn't been peer-reviewed, it still raises "a strong argument," Jagdish Khubchandani, PhD, MPH, a professor of public health at New Mexico State University, told Health.

So, Are Blue Zones Still Valid?

Experts say Newman’s study raises questions about whether places designated as blue zones actually have higher-than-normal percentages of centenarians.

But Mehta said that if you broaden the definition of blue zones to focus on exceptional average life expectancy and overall health, factors he considers more important than centenarian status alone, that the concept holds up. Many regions still align with the lifestyle traits Buettner identified, and additional areas—such as parts of France and the Nordic countries—might also qualify.

“It’s not just the number of folks who’ve reached extreme ages, but what is the health and mortality levels of the whole population?” Mehta said.

Still, Khubchandani pointed out that the lifestyles associated with blue zones aren’t always easy to replicate. “What’s the public health meaning when most people cannot go to these places or live the lifestyle that has been touted as a really, really healthy lifestyle?” he said. “My concern is: Can we adopt these lifestyles in the modern-day situations around our communities?”

How to Boost Longevity

While some of the claims about blue zones may be exaggerated or based on flawed data, Busse said the outlined lifestyle traits associated with them are indeed powerful tools for improving your overall health.

“I don’t think we should toss out the recommendations that are part of blue zone methodology,” Busse said. “I would hate for people to think, well, we’re gonna stop eating vegetables and socializing with each other and exercising because they said blue zones [aren’t] a thing and won’t help me live to 100.”

In fact, many of the habits overlap with the pillars of lifestyle medicine as laid out by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine:

• Whole-food, plant-based nutrition: Incorporate vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains into your meals. Reducing processed foods and excess sugar can also help lower your risk of chronic illnesses.
• Physical activity: Daily movement, whether it’s walking or a higher-impact exercise, is important to maintain cardiovascular health. 
• Stress management: Mindfulness practices like meditation or taking breaks to unwind can reduce the effects of chronic stress.
• Restorative sleep: Aim for seven or more hours of quality sleep per night to give your body time to repair and recharge.
• Strong social connections: Building and nurturing relationships with family, friends, and community groups can significantly improve mental and emotional well-being. Plus, it can contribute to a sense of purpose as you age, Busse said.

However, one aspect of the blue zone lifestyle—moderate wine consumption—remains controversial. “The American College of Lifestyle Medicine does not recommend alcohol, and most longevity physicians don’t believe in encouraging people to drink alcohol,” Busse said.

This story originally appeared on: Health News - Author:Hannah Singleton