Sardinian village where more women reach 100 may be new centenarian ‘blue zone’

In Bolotana, a small mountain village in Sardinia, researchers have identified a remarkable trend: 13.8% of women who reach the age of 70 in this village are expected to live to 100. This finding positions Bolotana as a potential new candidate for a centenarian "blue zone," a term used to describe geographic areas with high concentrations of centenarians.

Sardinia gained recognition as a blue zone in 1999 when several remote villages in its central and eastern provinces were classified among the world's five regions with the highest longevity rates. Now, Bolotana, located about 70 miles (110 km) from the original blue zone, is emerging as a significant contributor to this phenomenon, particularly driven by its female population.

A study conducted by professors from Sardinia’s University of Sassari and the University of Alabama at Birmingham was published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Aging. The research analyzed records of individuals born in Bolotana between 1900 and 1925, revealing that 38 residents lived beyond 100, resulting in a longevity rate that is 57% higher than the Italian national average.