Aging in Acciaroli

The secret to living a long, healthy lifestyle is something we all hope to find. Acciaroli (pictured right), a small village of 2,000 people sitting on Italy’s southern coast, seems to have discovered this mystery. 1 in 10 of Acciarola’s residents are over the age of 90 (News, 2016; Worley, 2016). Researchers from the San Diego School of Medicine at the University of California teamed up with the University of Rome La Sapienza to study 300 Acciaroli citizens over the age of 100. Dr. Alan Maisel, a cardiologist leading the long-term study, and his team have been collecting blood samples to test and discover the reason why this population is able to live and stay healthy for such a long period of time (“Remote Italian Village Could Harbor Secrets of Healthy Aging,” n.d.). Through the blood samples, researchers discovered unique metabolites they had never seen before. They believe these molecules are delivering nutrients to the bloodstream that decrease the risk of cataracts, Alzheimer’s, and heart conditions that have been affecting the elderly population around the world for years, but have been nonexistent in this particular population (“LexisNexis® Academic & Library Solutions,” n.d.).

Their consumption of rosemary and anchovies, as well as the mild temperatures, are some of the notable details of their lifestyle that have been discovered since the study began back in March 2016. Rosemary, an herb that most residents grow in their own backyards, has helped prevent diseases such as Alzheimer’s through the release of the chemical compound, carnosic acid. This chemical is said to improve memory and eye sight, as well as protect the brain from damage (many studies have proven its ability to increase blood flow to the brain). Like many oily fish used in dishes throughout the village, anchovies are full of antioxidants that lower cholesterol, maintain arterial blood flow, and decrease risk of inflammation; all beneficial to a person’s aging process. The mild weather allows for the residents to spend time outdoors where they remain active through walking long distances in unpolluted air that is unindustrialized and seemingly untouched (“LexisNexis® Academic & Library Solutions,” n.d.; Laneri 2016). Although a Mediterranean diet consisting of fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs is said to be the leading factor extending their lives, Maisel does not find this to be true, as this diet is consumed across the entire country. To dig further, he and his team are using these samples to discover how their genes come into play (Laneri, 2016; “Remote Italian Village Could Harbor Secrets of Healthy Aging,” n.d).

Giuseppe Luongo, 98

With an average life expectancy of 84 years, there seems to be a connection to the longevity of many Italians and their ability to maintain a stress-free life that does not push them to work to the point of exhaustion (Cecere, n.d.). In the United States, where the life expectancy sits at 78 years, we experience this rushed lifestyle and mindset almost daily (“Remote Italian Village Could Harbor Secrets of Healthy Aging,” n.d.). Learning to lead a lifestyle with a slower pace, more physical activity, and a conscious mind on healthy foods, we too might be able to discover this “Fountain of Youth” the residents of Acciaroli have been using for years.

This post was written by Kelsie Basile, a junior studying Public Health. After graduating, she plans to get her Master’s of Public Health and aspires to become a Nurse Practitioner in Women’s Health.  

Cecere, B. W., CNN Senior International Correspondent Photographs by Gianluca. (n.d.). How to live to 100. Retrieved July 24, 2017, from http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/21/health/how-to-live-to-100-acciaroli-centenarians/index.html

If you want to live forever, move to this Italian town | New York Post. (n.d.). Retrieved July 24, 2017, from http://nypost.com/2016/04/12/if-you-want-to-live-forever-move-to-this-italian-town/

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