Blue Zones Are Real — And Changing: What New Research Reveals About Longevity

The world’s so-called "blue zones"—regions that report unusually high numbers of residents who live into their 90s and beyond—are real, but they are not fixed. A new analysis published in The Gerontologist validates classic blue zones while showing that these longevity hotspots can shift over time as social and environmental forces change.

What the Study Found

The authors conducted extensive, cross-checked age verification using multiple independent documentary sources: civil birth and death records, church archives, genealogical reconstructions, electoral and military rolls, and in-person interviews. Their review confirms that the four classic blue zones—Sardinia (Italy), Okinawa (Japan), Nicoya (Costa Rica) and Ikaria (Greece)—do indeed contain disproportionately large numbers of nonagenarians and centenarians.

"Extraordinary claims about longevity demand extraordinary evidence," said Steven Austad, lead author and director of the American Federation for Aging Research. "What we show in this paper is that the original blue zones meet — and often exceed — the strict validation criteria used worldwide to confirm exceptional human longevity."

Blue Zones Are Dynamic

The research emphasizes that blue zones are not permanent. Some hotspots have faded while new candidates have appeared. In Okinawa and parts of Nicoya, for example, immigration, modernisation and lifestyle changes appear to be weakening previously strong longevity patterns. Conversely, new candidates such as Rugao (China) and the Caribbean island of Martinique have been identified for further study.

An elderly couple arrive to cast their vote in Rome (AFP via Getty)

Why This Matters

Researchers say the variability increases scientific value: changing blue zones provide a natural experiment for understanding how social, cultural and lifestyle shifts influence healthy aging. Because the classic blue zones tend to be relatively isolated—Sardinia, Ikaria and Okinawa are islands or island regions and Nicoya is a formerly remote peninsula—researchers note isolation may help preserve cultural practices and, possibly, genetic traits that support longevity. However, beyond isolation, there is little ecological or climatic similarity among the sites, suggesting multiple pathways to long life.

Dan Buettner, the National Geographic fellow who popularised the "blue zone" concept but was not involved in this study, said: "At a time when populations around the world are ageing rapidly, it is essential that public discussion and promising interventions be grounded in sound science. Blue zones continue to offer real, validated insights into how we can all live healthier, longer."

Implications for Research and Public Health

Validated blue zones act as "natural laboratories" for researchers seeking interventions to extend healthy lifespan. The study underscores the need for continuous, rigorous age verification and longitudinal study of social and environmental changes so scientists can separate genuine longevity signals from recordkeeping errors or other confounders.

Bottom line: Classic blue zones are supported by robust documentation, but their boundaries and influence can shift with migration, modernisation and changing lifestyles—offering a dynamic resource for understanding healthy ageing.