experiencelifemag.com Print › | Back › Into the Wild Blue Yonder An intrepid explorer studying the world's longest-living cultures finds that living long and living well are often one and the same. By Eliza Thomas July-August 2006 Centuries of explores have scoured the globe in search of the storied fountain of youth. Minnesota-based extreme adventurer and educator Dan Buettner (see "Forever Young") believes he’s found it — in the so-called longevity cultures of a handful of long-living communities around the world. These regions, dubbed “Blue Zones” by Buettner, lead the planet for life expectancy, disability-free life expectancy (a measure of quality of life in old age), or concentrations of centenarians. Take Sardinia, Italy, where the female-to-male ratio of centenarians is nearly one-to-one (compared to four-to-one in the United States). Or Okinawa, Japan, whose senior residents enjoy possibly the world’s longest life expectancy while suffering just one-fifth of the heart disease, one-fourth of the breast and prostate cancer, and one-third less dementia than their American counterparts. Backed by such auspicious patrons as the National Institute on Aging, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and the National Geographic Society, Buettner leads the Blue Zones project, a long-term study of these exceptionally enduring populations. As a key part of his investigative efforts, Buettner also mounts multimedia-savvy scientific expeditions that explore these cultures and populations on the ground and then beam back daily reports and video via satellite. The interactive Blue Zones Web site lets classrooms of kids get in on the action, and even help direct the expedition as it happens. Best of all, kids can get personally involved in living a healthier life by taking up a BlueZones Challenge designed especially for them. Traditions to Adopt Studies have shown that up to 70 percent of how well we age can be attributed to our lifestyle, Buettner says. “We take a look at the lifestyle in each Blue Zone and try to scientifically distill down a longevity recipe that Americans can live by.” On the Blue Zones Web site, Buettner shares the first of his findings in 10 film shorts created during his October 2005 Blue Zone visit to Okinawa. “Each of the 10 bring to life one of the longevity habits of highly successful centenarians,” he explains. “The habits include things like surrounding yourself with family and friends, living with your parents and grandparents, exploring your faith and spirituality, getting daily exercise, eating a rainbow of colors, finding a sense of purpose, and simply getting married.” Upcoming Blue Zones expeditions include spots in Central America, Italy and right here in the United States. For more Blue Zones findings and more updates from the frontlines of the world’s longevity cultures (including the newest identified Blue Zone to be announced this October), tune in at www.bluezones.com.

Into the Wild Blue Yonder

An intrepid explorer studying the world's longest-living cultures finds that living long and living well are often one and the same.

Centuries of explores have scoured the globe in search of the storied fountain of youth. Minnesota-based extreme adventurer and educator Dan Buettner (see "Forever Young") believes he’s found it — in the so-called longevity cultures of a handful of long-living communities around the world.

These regions, dubbed “Blue Zones” by Buettner, lead the planet for life expectancy, disability-free life expectancy (a measure of quality of life in old age), or concentrations of centenarians.

Take Sardinia, Italy, where the female-to-male ratio of centenarians is nearly one-to-one (compared to four-to-one in the United States). Or Okinawa, Japan, whose senior residents enjoy possibly the world’s longest life expectancy while suffering just one-fifth of the heart disease, one-fourth of the breast and prostate cancer, and one-third less dementia than their American counterparts.

Backed by such auspicious patrons as the National Institute on Aging, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and the National Geographic Society, Buettner leads the Blue Zones project, a long-term study of these exceptionally enduring populations. As a key part of his investigative efforts, Buettner also mounts multimedia-savvy scientific expeditions that explore these cultures and populations on the ground and then beam back daily reports and video via satellite.

The interactive Blue Zones Web site lets classrooms of kids get in on the action, and even help direct the expedition as it happens. Best of all, kids can get personally involved in living a healthier life by taking up a BlueZones Challenge designed especially for them.

Traditions to Adopt

Studies have shown that up to 70 percent of how well we age can be attributed to our lifestyle, Buettner says. “We take a look at the lifestyle in each Blue Zone and try to scientifically distill down a longevity recipe that Americans can live by.”

On the Blue Zones Web site, Buettner shares the first of his findings in 10 film shorts created during his October 2005 Blue Zone visit to Okinawa. “Each of the 10 bring to life one of the longevity habits of highly successful centenarians,” he explains. “The habits include things like surrounding yourself with family and friends, living with your parents and grandparents, exploring your faith and spirituality, getting daily exercise, eating a rainbow of colors, finding a sense of purpose, and simply getting married.”

Upcoming Blue Zones expeditions include spots in Central America, Italy and right here in the United States. For more Blue Zones findings and more updates from the frontlines of the world’s longevity cultures (including the newest identified Blue Zone to be announced this October), tune in at www.bluezones.com.

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