In the rugged mountain villages of central-eastern Sardinia, growing old is almost a way of life. What has fascinated scientists for decades, however, is not simply the number of people reaching 100, but the fact that men do so almost as often as women. In most developed countries, women vastly outnumber men among centenarians, yet Sardinia's mountainous interior defies that pattern. The discovery transformed the island into one of the world's original "Blue Zones" and inspired years of scientific research. Although many people credit the phenomenon to healthy eating or having a strong sense of purpose, researchers say the real explanation lies in a much broader combination of biology, lifestyle, environment and culture.
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