Successful Aging: A Neuroscientist Explores the Power and Potential of Our Lives

by Daniel J. Levitin

Blue Zones So-called blue zones made headlines in 2008 when demographers discovered the four places in the world that had the highest number of people over age one hundred: Nicoya, Costa Rica; Sardinia, Italy; Ikaria, Greece; and Okinawa, Japan (some lists add Del Mar, California). Most people living in the blue zones have the following in common: They are physically active, not through weight and endurance training, but through chores, gardening, and walking as an integrated part of their lives—they move a lot. Their lives have a sense of purpose by doing things they find meaningful. They have lower levels of stress and a slower pace. They have strong family and community ties. They follow a varied diet with a moderate caloric intake, but mostly based on plant sources and high-quality food.