Sardinian Blue Zone Study: Social Engagement and Active Lifestyle Boost Longevity – News and Statistics

Jul 12, 2026

Sardinian Blue Zone Study Reveals Key Factors for Healthy Aging

Global life expectancy has reached an average of 73.5 years, marking an unprecedented high. Yet a longer lifespan does not automatically equate to better health. Scientists are now investigating what enables not just extended years, but a healthy and high-quality existence

To explore this, researchers from Cagliari University in Italy studied the elderly population of the Sardinian blue zone, a region on the Mediterranean island where residents tend to outlive others in Italy and across Europe. Blue zones are geographically isolated areas—including central-eastern Sardinia, Okinawa in Japan, Ikaria in Greece, and Nicoya in Costa Rica—known for their inhabitants’ exceptional longevity and well-being

For a location to be classified as a blue zone, it must have well-defined borders, an unusually high number of individuals who have lived to at least 90 years old over the last 150 years, and verifiable birth and death records. Earlier studies have attributed the extended lifespans in these areas to a mix of genetic, environmental, dietary, social, cultural, and psychological influences

The recent investigation, featured in the International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, contrasted older adults from the Sardinian blue zone with those from a neighboring rural area. Participants answered questions regarding their lifestyle, demographic details, and perceived quality of life, and underwent a cognitive assessment

Within the Sardinian blue zone, older individuals engage in regular activities that are socially and mentally stimulating. They preserve a meaningful role in their community and a sense of purpose, which the study’s authors identify as crucial for aging successfully. Those in the blue zone exhibited greater curiosity, openness to new experiences, and a heightened capacity to comprehend and express their emotions

The findings indicate that adaptable personality traits and an active way of life are vital for sustaining mental and physical health in later years. Blue zone residents follow a simple yet highly active routine, dedicating an average of 11.3 hours per week to cognitively and physically engaging leisure pursuits, compared to 6.8 hours for those outside the blue zone

Rather than attempting to do everything, these older adults concentrate on activities they can still perform well and find rewarding, such as gardening, walking, or participating in community center events. They typically maintain robust social connections within their communities and report higher satisfaction with both family and non-family relationships. Additionally, they employ more effective strategies for managing daily challenges and demonstrate greater emotional skills

The researchers concluded that social involvement and efficient stress management are essential components for aging well in these distinctive communities. In the Sardinian blue zone, the proportion of centenarians among individuals born between 1880 and 1900 was roughly five times greater than in the rest of Europe and three times higher than in Sardinia overall. This ratio has continued to rise since the term was introduced nearly two decades ago. Although women globally are more likely than men to reach 100 years, in this part of Sardinia the gender ratio is nearly even. The study team confirmed the ages of everyone over 90 by verifying civil and church records and reconstructing family trees to eliminate mistakes or identity changes.

1. 1. INTRODUCTION

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   2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
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2. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

   A Quick Overview of Market Performance

   1. KEY FINDINGS
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3. 3. MARKET OVERVIEW

   Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects

   1. MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
   2. CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
   3. MARKET FORECAST TO 2035

4. 4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION

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   1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
   2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
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5. 5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

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   1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
   2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
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6. 6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

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   1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
   2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
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7. 7. PRODUCTION

   The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

   1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
   2. PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)

8. 8. IMPORTS

   The Largest Import Supplying Countries

   1. IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
   2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
   3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)

9. 9. EXPORTS

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   1. EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
   2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
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10. 10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

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11. 11. COUNTRY PROFILES

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12. LIST OF TABLES

    1. Key Findings In 2025
    2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    3. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    4. Per Capita Consumption, by Country, 2022–2025
    5. Production, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    6. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    7. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    8. Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    9. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    10. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    11. Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)

13. LIST OF FIGURES

    1. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    2. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    3. Consumption, by Country, 2025
    4. Market Volume Forecast to 2035
    5. Market Value Forecast to 2035
    6. Market Size and Growth, By Product
    7. Average Per Capita Consumption, By Product
    8. Exports and Growth, By Product
    9. Export Prices and Growth, By Product
    10. Production Volume and Growth
    11. Exports and Growth
    12. Export Prices and Growth
    13. Market Size and Growth
    14. Per Capita Consumption
    15. Imports and Growth
    16. Import Prices
    17. Production, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    18. Production, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    19. Production, by Country, 2025
    20. Production, In Physical Terms, by Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    21. Imports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    22. Imports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    23. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
    24. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    25. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    26. Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    27. Exports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    28. Exports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    29. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
    30. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    31. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    32. Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)

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