Strong 72/100
Sardinia AKEA Study — Identification of a geographic area characterised by extreme longevity
In plain English
The AKEA study (named for Sardinian birthday toast 'a kent'annos') verified the world's highest density of male centenarians in a mountainous region of central Sardinia. Diet (beans, whole grains, pecorino cheese, modest red wine), daily uphill walking, and tightly-knit shepherd communities are the documented common factors.
Why it matters
Highest male centenarian density on Earth in central Sardinia.
Informs: Blue Zones
Provenance
- Design
- Prospective cohort
- Sample size (n)
- 9,000
- Follow-up
- 10 years
- Peer-reviewed
- Yes
- Replications
- 2
- Funding
- Public / academic
- Funders
- Italian Ministry of Health, Sardinian regional government
- Institutions
- University of Sassari, Université Catholique de Louvain
decades.plus score
A transparent 0–100 weighted sum across six components. Higher scores reflect bigger, cleaner, more replicated work.
Strong 72/100
Caveats
Demographic; food intake characterisation is largely historical recall. Younger Sardinians' longevity advantage is shrinking with dietary Westernisation.
