On the island of Sardinia, 120 kilometers off the Italian coast, shepherds chase their goats across the mountains, supplying local milk and cheese for the island’s inhabitants. Families live together in multigenerational homes, and friends gather in cafes to share a laugh and a glass of wine after work. As one of the world’s five “blue zones,” Sardinia has long captivated scientists with its high concentration of centenarians, or people living to age 100, that roam its steep streets.
The blue zones — which were named as such when longevity researchers Michel Poulain and Giovanni Mario Pes circled regions of Sardinia on the map with blue ink — are generally thought to include Sardinia as well as Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; Okinawa, Japan; and Loma Linda, California. Although there has been some recent debate on whether all of these zones should be considered blue zones, studies show people in places like Nicoya and Sardinia seem to live longer healthier lives. Sardinia, for example, contains twice the number of centenarians than the global average.
