Vital, healthy, and sexually active in old age! Learn from these Italian seniors
In the area around Acciaroli in Italy, the local population reaches an exceptionally old age. This area, just south of Naples, is therefore one of the so-called Blue Zones. These are regions where people live longer, healthier and happier lives on average than in other parts of the world. Okinawa in Japan and Sardinia are also among these recognized zones.
The village of centenarians
In Acciaroli, many people over the age of 90 live in good health. For example, they have a robust libido and are still sexually active. The brains of 95-year-olds are comparable to those of “normal” people in their 50s who still think about sex regularly. A researcher studying this group of older adults even describes a 94-year-old woman who tried to seduce him during his work.
One of the physical characteristics of the people in Acciaroli is their extremely good microcirculation. The small blood vessels that deliver nutrients deep into different tissues and remove waste are just as good as those of teenagers. The levels of adrenomedullin, a hormone that widens blood vessels, were used as the indicator.
Epigenetics seems more important after all
Genetic factors can of course not be ruled out, but epigenetics seems to be playing an increasingly important role in understanding health and aging. Epigenetics is the science of switching genes on and off by changing lifestyle and environmental factors without altering the underlying DNA.
This means that genetic determinism is increasingly being sent to the dustbin. Statements such as “I am fat or sick or … because of my genetic predisposition” are therefore, in many cases, being called into question.
Rosemary
In Acciaroli, a number of nutritional and lifestyle factors stand out and align with a Mediterranean lifestyle. People eat a lot of local food, including anchovies and rabbit, and in particular a local variety of rosemary that is 10 times stronger than the rosemary we eat. This locally grown rosemary is used with almost every meal. This is seen as a special factor because it contains higher concentrations of beneficial compounds.
Senolytics, slow down aging
One of these compounds may fall under the new classification of molecules known as “senolytics.” Senescent cells are cells that no longer divide but also do not die, and are therefore dysfunctional and damaging to other cells. The number of senescent cells increases with age. Senolytics clear out these senescent cells and can also be plant-based molecules.
Because environmental factors remain higher in the hierarchy than nutrition, it is also noted that the elderly in Acciaroli spend a lot of time outdoors in the sun, breathe clean air, swim in the sea and walk in the mountains. In a previous blog, we already discussed the so-called exposome and the role of environmental factors in good health.
The importance of sunlight
It is not only vitamin D3 that makes the sun healthy. There are countless mechanisms through which the sun influences our well-being. The list below of known beneficial effects is probably only part of the true spectrum of benefits.
Exposure to sunlight:
- determines circadian rhythm
- is good for the heart and blood pressure
- is good for mood
- has nootropic effects and is good for brain function
- is good for the teeth
- is good for alertness
- increases sex hormones and has pain-relieving effects
In summary;
For your well-being, it may therefore be interesting to look at the shared lifestyle factors of people living in Blue Zones, such as healthy eating and staying active. In addition, specific factors may play an important role; in Acciaroli, for example, rosemary likely plays a significant role among older adults.
You can consider the common factors as the foundation and experiment with the specific ones. You can do this based on what is possible or what you need!
