Specific features of the oldest old from the Longevity Blue Zones in Ikaria and Sardinia. (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Poulain, Michel; Herm, Anne; Errigo, Alessandra; Chrysohoou, Christina; Legrand, Romain; Passarino, Giuseppe; Stazi, Maria Antonietta; Voutekatis, Konstantinos G.; Gonos, Efstathios S.; Franceschi, Claudio; Pes, Giovanni M.
• Is Part Of: Mechanisms of ageing and development. Volume 198(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: LBZs Longevity Blue Zones -- GEHA Genetics of Healthy Aging in Europe -- MMSE Mini Mental State Examination -- SRH Self Rated Health -- APOE Apolipoprotein E -- FOXO3A Forkhead box O3 -- PON1 Serum Paraoxonase/Arylesterase 1 gene; Population longevity -- Longevity Blue Zones -- Nonagenarians -- Behavioral factors -- Genetic markers; Aging -- Periodicals; Developmental biology -- Periodicals; Aging -- Periodicals; Developmental Biology -- Periodicals; Vieillissement -- Périodiques; Biologie du développement -- Périodiques; Aging; Developmental biology; Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2021.111543
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0047-6374

Abstract

Highlights: " Longevity Blue Zones" (LBZs) are areas with an unusually high proportion of oldest old. Analysis of nonagenarians in the LBZs may reveal factors associated with population longevity. Self‒perceived optimism and self‒rated health record significantly higher scores in the LBZs. Genetic markers show a limited association with the longevity of LBZ populations. Healthier behaviors and lifestyle factors might favor population longevity. Abstract: Human longevity may be found in single individuals as well as in the population as a whole ("population longevity"). Longevity Blue Zones (LBZs), which are areas with an unusually high number of oldest old, have been identified in Sardinia and the Greek island of Ikaria. We compared the lifestyle, health status and some genetic markers of the LBZ populations with those of reference populations from Italy and Greece; the data were extracted from the GEHA database. In the LBZs, the proportion of individuals who never married or were married and still living with their spouse was significantly greater. Nonagenarians males and females with a high self‒perception of optimism and/or a high score for self-rated health were also found in larger proportions in LBZs. Among the variables with lower frequency were the proportion of the widowed, the percentage of subjects who had suffered a stroke and the frequency of Apoε4 and Apoε2 and the TT genotype of FOXO3A gene. Compared to behavioral and health indicators, the impact of genetic factors might be relatively less important in the LBZs. Nevertheless, further research is needed to identify potential epigenetic traits that might play a predominant role due to the interaction between genetics and the human and physical environments.