Longevity Secrets of the Blue Zones by Jerry Brainum 4/25

 

In the 1933 novel Lost Horizon, British author James Hilton describes a mythical paradise akin to heaven on Earth. This place, known as Shangri-La, is hidden away from civilization, a utopia where those who live there are seemingly immortal, living for hundreds of years. The citizens of Shangri-La aged slowly. In later years, a location in the Hunza Valley, also hidden in the towering mountains of the Himalayas, was said to be the inspiration for Hilton's novel, not only because of its hidden location but because of the alleged increased health and longevity of its inhabitants. But unlike the fictional people who lived in Shangri-La, the real Hunza people aged faster than average from increased exposure to the ultraviolet rays from the Sun that are more potent at higher altitudes. 

While Shangri-La was a work of fiction, there are places where people seem to age more slowly and stay vigorous and free of the typical diseases accompanying the aging process, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. These places have been designated as "Blue Zones," and five have been recognized. The term " Blue Zones" is attributed to Dan Buettner, who began researching and studying people who reside in the Blue Zones (BZ) while working for National Geographic. The Blue Zones stood out to him because many of those who lived there aged better than average, free of disease and infirmity in their later years. This differed from more upscale countries, where disease and disability were often considered an inevitable consequence of the aging process. Through books, articles, and a documentary on Netflix, Buettner presented a case suggesting that those who lived in the Blue Zones were healthy into older age not because of genetic factors but because of their diet, exercise, and lifestyle choices. The implication was that anyone, regardless of genetic limitations, could also live longer and healthier lives if they duplicated the habits of the Blue Zone people.

Those who live to 100 or more are rare in the United States, but those who reside in the BZ reach age 100 at a ten times greater rate than in the United States. What are they doing to extend their longevity and stay so healthy that they are still physically active at 90 and over and can live independently? According to the intense research conducted on those who live in the Blue Zones, their health and longevity are based on nine specific characteristics. Again, the implication is that anyone can duplicate the lifestyle rules of the Blue Zone people and live longer, healthier lives. However, my ongoing research into longevity suggests that genetics play more of a role than advocates of the Blue Zone lifestyle are willing to admit. They point out that twin studies say that only about 20% of a person's lifespan is controlled by genetic factors, while lifestyle factors, including diet, exercise, and socialization, control 80%. However . . .