Description of extreme longevity in the Balearic Islands: Exploring a potential Blue Zone in Menorca, Spain

Aim: We aimed to determine whether there was a Blue Zone, an area characterized by extreme longevity, in Menorca, Spain. Methods: We explored official statistics of the Balearic Islands, Spain, and calculated life expectancy from 1991 to 2009, by sex and island, among other demographic estimators. R...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Joan Soriano; Sara Fernández; Silvia Carretero; Dolores Puga; Cecilia Soriano; Dora Romaguera; Alberto Alonso; Xavier Busquet; Susana Balcells; Daniel Grinberg; Michel Poulain
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2014
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/379027
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/379027
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Balearics, Blue Zone, longevity, Menorca, survival
http://metadata.un.org/sdg/3
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
540302 (Demografía)
Descripción
Sumario:Aim: We aimed to determine whether there was a Blue Zone, an area characterized by extreme longevity, in Menorca, Spain. Methods: We explored official statistics of the Balearic Islands, Spain, and calculated life expectancy from 1991 to 2009, by sex and island, among other demographic estimators. Results: The life expectancy at birth in Menorca reached a peak in 2007 with 82.3 years, but since 2001 in females and 2007 in males, it plateaued and then descended. The percentage of centenarians in Es Migjorn Gran was 0.17% in 2001, only because of the 0.33% male contribution, and it returned to within the average Balearic rates. There is no record of any other surviving centenarian after 2006 in Es Migjorn Gran. Results obtained with other demographic indices are confirmatory. Conclusions: It appears there was no extreme longevity or Blue Zone in Es Migjorn Gran and the surrounding villages in Menorca