Brief
Study Finds Women in Sardinian Village Bolotana Have Four‑Times U.S. Chance of Living to 100
An international study using historic records suggests Bolotana could become a new blue‑zone for female longevity.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Scientists have identified the mountain village of Bolotana on Sardinia as a potential new “blue zone,” where women are far more likely to reach 100 years old than in most other populations, according to a study published on 16 October 2026.
What happened
The research team reconstructed life histories for 3,060 residents born between 1900 and 1925, matching birth, baptismal and death records that span centuries. They documented 38 centenarians, a rate roughly 11 times higher than in the United States. Women who survived to age 70 in Bolotana have a 13.8 % probability of living to 100, compared with about 3.5 % for Italy overall and 3.6 % for the United States.
What the reports add
The study, supported by National Geographic and published in Frontiers in Aging, was co‑authored by S. Jay Olshansky, professor emeritus of epidemiology at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health. Olshansky emphasized that Bolotana’s “incredible historical record” allowed researchers to verify ages without ambiguity. The village’s population of roughly 2,300 people includes six confirmed centenarians as of 2024, a figure that initially drew scientific attention.
What was said
“What makes Bolotana extraordinary is that it has an incredible historical record that allows us to definitively evaluate ages at birth and death,” Olshansky told ScienceTechDaily. He added, “Every single person that has made it past 100, we can validate. There is no ambiguity.”
How it came about
Previous blue‑zone research highlighted Sardinia’s male longevity; this new work shifts focus to women, who show a 21‑year estimated remaining life expectancy at age 70. The authors suggest that lifestyle, genetics, and strong community ties may contribute, but they caution that further observation is needed before formally designating Bolotana as a blue zone.
Key facts
- Women in Bolotana have a 13.8% chance of living to 100, nearly four times the U.S. figure. (scitechdaily.com)
- Among 3,060 people born 1900‑1925, 38 reached 100 years old. (scitechdaily.com)
- The study was published in Frontiers in Aging and co‑authored by S. Jay Olshansky. (scitechdaily.com)
Sources
- [1] scitechdaily.com — originally reported as “Scientists Uncover a Longevity Hotspot Where Reaching 100 Is Surprisingly Common”
