Italy's Village of Bolotana in Sardinia Emerges as New Blue Zone Candidate
A new scientific study has revealed that the village of Bolotana in Sardinia could become a new blue zone due to its extraordinary female longevity rate.
Bolotana, a small mountain village on the Italian island of Sardinia, is poised to join the world's new blue zones thanks to extraordinary statistics in women reaching the age of 100.
Remarkable Statistics of the Village of Bolotana
Located in the Margine region in the center of Sardinia, the village of Bolotana has become the focus of researchers due to the individuals over the age of 100 it regularly produces every year.
A joint study conducted by academics from the University of Sassari and the University of Alabama, published in the journal Frontiers in Aging, examined the secrets to longevity among women in the village.
Worldwide Female Longevity Rankings
According to the scientific study, 13.8% of women who reach the age of 70 in Bolotana live to see their centenarian milestone, making the village second in the world behind Hong Kong.
While only 3.5% of women over the age of 70 across Italy reach this milestone age, the rate in Bolotana remains well above the national average.
High Number of Centenarians Relative to Population
According to the research launched in 2024, the village of 2,266 residents had 12 centenarians living there last year, a figure approximately 12 times the Sardinian average.
Following those who passed away over time, all six remaining centenarians are women, with the two oldest individuals recorded at 102 years of age.
Expansion Trend Among Blue Zones
Unlike the world's other four known blue zones—Okinawa, Nicoya, Ikaria, and Loma Linda—it has been observed that this special area in Sardinia tends to expand.
Giovanni Mario Pes, one of the co-creators of the blue zone concept, stated that Bolotana shares the same characteristic features as other regions, though longevity is predominantly driven by women.
Possible Environmental and Lifestyle Reasons for Longevity
Bolotana Mayor Francesco Manconi pointed to clean dietary habits, an untouched natural environment, and physical activities such as walking as the secret to long life.