A small mountain village in central Sardinia is attracting international attention after researchers identified an unusually high rate of female longevity, raising the possibility that the community could be a new addition to the world’s recognised “blue zones” — areas known for unusually high concentrations of people who live to 100 and beyond.
Researchers from the University of Sassari in Sardinia and the University of Alabama at Birmingham found that 13.8% of women in Bolotana who reach the age of 70 go on to live to 100. The figure places the village second globally for female longevity, behind Hong Kong.
The findings, published in Frontiers in Aging, were based on records of people born in Bolotana between 1900 and 1925. Researchers identified 38 people who lived beyond 100, with the village recording a longevity rate 57% higher than the Italian national average.
Bolotana, located approximately 110 kilometres from Sardinia’s original recognised blue zone, had 12 centenarians among its population of 2,266 as of 2025, roughly 12 times the Sardinian average. Six have since died, while the six remaining centenarians are all women.
Beyond Diet: The Role of Social Connection
While the study does not attempt to identify a single cause for Bolotana’s longevity, researchers say the community offers an important opportunity to examine how social relationships, physical activity and environment may interact with biological factors to influence healthy ageing.
Giovanni Mario Pes, the study’s lead scientist and one of the co-creators of the blue-zone concept, said what stood out during his observations of elderly residents was the strength of their social relationships.
Centenarians in the community continue to maintain close relationships with family members and neighbours, with everyday activities such as cooking, talking and living together remaining part of their lives.
Residents also traditionally remain physically active. According to Bolotana’s mayor, elderly residents have historically walked long distances as part of their daily lives, while the surrounding natural environment and traditional diet may also contribute to the community’s health profile.
A Growing Global Development Challenge
The findings come at a time when population ageing is becoming an increasingly important development issue around the world.
Italy itself recorded 23,548 people aged 100 and above in November 2025, an increase of about 2,000 from the previous year. Women accounted for 82.6% of those reaching 100 during the previous year.
Bolotana therefore offers more than a story about living longer. It raises broader questions about what communities need to help people age well, including social connection, physical activity, healthy environments, family structures and opportunities for older people to remain engaged in everyday life.
As countries across the world prepare for rapidly ageing populations, communities such as Bolotana may provide valuable insights into the social and environmental conditions that support longevity.
The researchers, however, caution against drawing conclusions about the “secret” to living longer from the study alone. Its primary finding is the existence of an exceptional pattern of longevity that warrants further investigation.
If confirmed as a new blue zone, Bolotana could become an important case study in the global conversation around healthy ageing, women’s longevity and the social determinants of health.
