Sociodemographic and Lifestyle Statistics of Oldest Old People (>80 Years) Living in Ikaria Island: The Ikaria Study

Abstract

Background. There are places around the world where people live longer and they are active past the age of 100 years, sharing common behavioral characteristics; these places (i.e., Sardinia in Italy, Okinawa in Japan, Loma Linda in California and Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica) have been named the “Blue Zones”. Recently it was reported that people in Ikaria Island, Greece, have also one of the highest life expectancies in the world, and joined the “Blue Zones”. The aim of this work work was to evaluate various demographic, lifestyle and psychological characteristics of very old (>80 years) people participated in Ikaria Study. Methods. During 2009, 1420 people (aged 30+) men and women from Ikaria Island, Greece, were voluntarily enrolled in the study. For this work, 89 males and 98 females over the age of 80 yrs were studied (13% of the sample). Socio-demographic, clinical, psychological and lifestyle characteristics were assessed using standard questionnaires and procedures. Results. A large proportion of the Ikaria Study's sample was over the age of 80; moreover, the percent of people over 90 were much higher than the European population average. The majority of the oldest old participants reported daily physical activities, healthy eating habits, avoidance of smoking, frequent socializing, mid-day naps and extremely low rates of depression. Conclusion. Modifiable risk factors, such as physical activity, diet, smoking cessation and mid-day naps, might depict the “secrets” of the long-livers; these findings suggest that the interaction of environmental, behavioral together with clinical characteristics may determine longevity. This concept must be further explored in order to understand how these factors relate and which are the most important in shaping prolonged life.

Mediterranean Diet and Health Promotion: evidence and current concerns

“…In the Ikaria Study, the percentage of people over the age of 90 years living in the Greek island of Ikaria was much higher than the European population average. The majority of the subjects observed regular physical activity, healthy eating habits (avoidance of smoking and spirits, very low consumption of wine during meals), midday naps, frequent socializing, thereby showing that the link between virtuous lifestyle, frugal eating behaviour and the observance of traditions may favourably influence the aging process and life expectation (Panagiotakos et al 2011). So far, the mechanisms of action through which the MD exerts its health benefit as a whole and prevents the onset of several diseases are not completely clarified because of various and complex aspects.…”

Health-Promoting Effects of Traditional Mediterranean Diets - A Review.

“…In Ikaria Island, Greece, the percentage of people over the age of 90 years was much higher than the European population average. The majority of the oldest participants reported daily physical activity, healthy eating habits, avoidance of smoking, midday naps, frequent socializing and low rate of depression, thus showing that the interaction of environmental, behavioural together with clinical traits may infl uence longevity [Panagiotakos et al, 2011].…”

Consumption of a boiled Greek type of coffee is associated with improved endothelial function: The Ikaria Study

“…Therefore, under the context of the Ikaria Study, 17,18 we examined the association between habitual coffee intake and endothelial function.…”

“…The Ikaria epidemiological study 17,19,20 has been carried out in the Province of Ikaria, in Greece. In brief, during 2009, a volunteering-based, multistage sampling method was used to enroll 673 permanent elderly inhabitants of Ikaria above the age of 65 years old.…”

“…14,15 Ikaria island inhabitants have been recognised as having one of the highest longevity rates universally and a high percentage of healthy aging. 16,17 Indeed, in Europe, only 0.1%…”