Sardinian village Bolotana positions itself for sixth 'blue zone' status due to female longevity

The mountain village of Bolotana in central Sardinia is now positioned as a candidate for the world's sixth 'blue zone', a designation reserved for areas with unusually high concentrations of centenarians. What distinguishes Bolotana from previous zones is that female longevity is driving the trend.

The village's demographic profile is anchored by its current elders. Giovanna and Mariangela Marras are 101 and 99, respectively, and are part of a group of six living female centenarians in the community. The two sisters ran a tailoring business in Bolotana and never married, with Mariangela noting she 'walks her own path' and does not need support.

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Sassari and the University of Alabama at Birmingham found that 13.8% of women in Bolotana who reach 70 live to 100, making it the second location globally for female longevity behind Hong Kong. Demographic records from the early 20th century show that the village’s longevity rate is 57% higher than the Italian national average, with a shift in the early 1900s where women began to outnumber men among the elderly.

Researchers are currently examining the village’s cultural and environmental factors, noting a 'strong sense of sisterhood' and a lifestyle that includes independent living, garden-grown produce, and regular physical activity. Bolotana is located in Sardinia's Marghine mountains, approximately 70 miles from the region's original blue zone, but its proximity to nearby cities like Sassari and Alghero is a distinct feature being explored by the study team.