Are blue zones real? Answering that question is harder than ever
The concept of 'blue zones' - areas with high concentrations of centenarians - is being questioned due to skepticism over its foundational science and a burgeoning business in blue zones products. The term was originally coined by Belgian demographer Michel Poulain and Italian physician Giovanni Pes to refer to isolated villages on the Italian island of Sardinia.
The concept of 'blue zones' is facing scrutiny. Originally, it referred to 14 isolated villages on Sardinia where researchers found many long-living people. Belgian demographer Michel Poulain and Italian physician Giovanni Pes coined the term in the early 2000s. Dan Buettner, a journalist, later popularized it and trademarked the term. Buettner has written several best-selling books and founded Blue Zones LLC, which certifies blue zone cities and offers cooking courses. However, Australian biologist Saul Newman published a paper in 2019 arguing that clerical errors and pension fraud better explain the high number of centenarians in these areas. The original blue zones researchers identified active habits and simple foods as factors contributing to longevity. The number of healthy seniors in the original regions is declining, and a business in blue zones products is growing.
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