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Aliberti SM, Donato A, Funk RHW, Capunzo M. A Narrative Review Exploring the Similarities between Cilento and the Already Defined "Blue Zones" in Terms of Environment, Nutrition, and Lifestyle: Can Cilento Be Considered an Undefined "Blue Zone"? Nutrients 2024; 16:729. [PMID: 38474857 DOI: 10.3390/nu16050729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Longevity is rightly considered one of the greatest achievements of modern society, not only as a function of lifespan, but, more importantly, as a function of healthspan. There are Longevity Blue Zones (LBZs), regions around the world, such as in Okinawa, Japan; the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica; Loma Linda, California; Icaria, Greece; and Ogliastra, Sardinia, that are characterized by a significant percentage of residents who live exceptionally long lives, often avoiding age-related disability to a significantly higher degree than in the Western way of life. Longevity is not a universal phenomenon, so if there are places in the world with characteristics similar to the LBZs, it is important to identify them in order to better understand what other factors, in addition to the known ones, might contribute to a long and healthy life. This narrative review aims to identify common factors between Cilento and the five LBZs, taking into account environmental, nutritional, and lifestyle factors. Articles from 2004 to the present, limited to studies published in English, German, and Italian, were searched in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The co-authors agreed on 18 final reference texts. In order to evaluate the similarities between Cilento and the LBZs, a descriptive comparative approach was used. Cilento and the LBZs share several common factors, including a hilly altitude ranging from 355 to 600 m; a mild climate throughout the year, with temperatures between 17.4 and 23.5 degrees Celsius; traditional professions, such as agriculture and animal husbandry; and a predominantly Mediterranean or plant-based diet, with typical recipes based on legumes, tubers, vegetables, and extra virgin olive oil. Additionally, maintenance of strong intergenerational family relationships, religious devotion, and social relationships within the community are also prevalent. Given the similarities to Cilento, one might wonder if this is an LBZ waiting to be discovered. The lessons learned from this discovery could be applied to the general population to protect them from non-communicable chronic diseases and help slow the aging process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvana Mirella Aliberti
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy
| | - Antonio Donato
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy
| | - Richard H W Funk
- Institute of Anatomy, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Dresden International University (DIU), 01067 Dresden, Germany
| | - Mario Capunzo
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy
- Complex Operational Unit Health Hygiene, University Hospital "San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d'Aragona", 84131 Salerno, Italy
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D'Angelo S. Diet and Aging: The Role of Polyphenol-Rich Diets in Slow Down the Shortening of Telomeres: A Review. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:2086. [PMID: 38136206 PMCID: PMC10740764 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12122086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The ends of human chromosomes are defended by DNA-protein complexes named telomeres, which inhibit the chromosomes from fusing with each other and from being known as a double-strand break by DNA reparation proteins. Telomere length is a marker of biological aging, and disfunction of telomeres is related to age-related syndromes. Telomere attrition has been shown to be accelerated by oxidative stress and inflammation. Telomere length has been proven to be positively linked with nutritional status in human and animal scientific research as several nutrients influence it through mechanisms that imitate their function in cellular roles including oxidative stress and inflammation. Data reported in this article support the idea that following a low-in-fat and rich-plant polyphenols food diet seems to be able to slow down the shortening of telomeres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania D'Angelo
- Department of Medical, Movement and Wellbeing Sciences, Parthenope University, 80133 Naples, Italy
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Old, Nonagenarians, and Centenarians in Cilento, Italy and the Association of Lifespan with the Level of Some Physicochemical Elements in Tap Drinking Water. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15010218. [PMID: 36615875 PMCID: PMC9823399 DOI: 10.3390/nu15010218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Longevity, as a complex life-history trait, shares an ontogenetic relationship with other quantitative traits, such as epigenetic and environmental factors. Therefore, it is important to identify environmental factors that may modify the epigenome to establish healthy aging. This study explored the association between tap drinking water and longevity in Cilento, Italy, to understand whether trace elements in local drinking water may have an influence on old, nonagenarian, and centenarian people and promote their health and longevity. Data on population and water sources were collected through the National Demographic Statistics, the Cilento Municipal Archives, and the Cilento Integrated Water Service. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and a geographically weight regression (GWR) model were used to study the spatial relationship between the explanatory and outcome variables of longevity. The results of the study showed that the prevalence of longevity is concentrated in the central, northern and southeastern areas of the territory and that some trace elements present in tap water may contribute to local longevity in Cilento. Specifically, all Cilento municipalities had alkaline tap water, and the municipalities with the highest longevity concentrations had higher alkalinity levels than the other municipalities, soft to medium-hard water hardness, an amount of total dissolved solids equivalent to the level of excellent water, lower amounts of sodium, adequate iron concentration, and adequate dietary intake of manganese per day.
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Aliberti SM, Funk RHW, Schiavo L, Giudice A, Ciaglia E, Puca AA, Gonnella J, Capunzo M. Clinical Status, Nutritional Behavior, and Lifestyle, and Determinants of Community Well-Being of Patients from the Perspective of Physicians: A Cross-Sectional Study of Young Older Adults, Nonagenarians, and Centenarians in Salerno and Province, Italy. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14173665. [PMID: 36079922 PMCID: PMC9459717 DOI: 10.3390/nu14173665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Longevity is rightly considered one of the greatest achievements of modern society. Biomedical research has shown that aging is the major risk factor for many diseases, so to find the right answers to aging it is necessary to identify factors that can positively influence longevity. This study investigated the clinical status, nutritional behavior, lifestyle, and social and community determinants of the well-being of young older adults and nonagenarians/centenarians in Salerno and province through the judgment of their physicians. Data were collected through an online survey. Multivariate Poisson and logistic regression models were used to calculate significant predictors of the outcomes of interest. The interesting finding was that cardiovascular disease was a risk factor for young older adults, while it was a protective factor for nonagenarians/centenarians, meaning that as age increased, heart problems tended to decrease. Certain foods were found to be a significant protective factor for both young older adult and nonagenarian-centenarian patients. In addition, psychosomatic disorders were found to be determinant for the young older adults, while depression was a risk factor for the nonagenarians/centenarians because they were not always gratified by their long lives and often felt like a burden on the family. The protective significant variable among the determinants of community well-being for both young older adults and nonagenarians/centenarians was the retention of honorary achievement. Based on our results, we are able to support the hypothesis of a difference between the young older adults and the nonagenarians/centenarians in clinical status, nutritional behaviors, lifestyle, and determinants of community well-being. However, societies need more social and educational programs that are able to build "a new idea of old age" by improving and supporting the young older adults and the nonagenarians/centenarians, with the goal of intergenerational solidarity, well-being, and social inclusion, as well as preventive interventions on lifestyles and nutrition, which will allow us to provide a new key to understanding aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvana Mirella Aliberti
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-089-965227
| | - Richard H. W. Funk
- Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Institute of Anatomy, University of Technology (TU) Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Luigi Schiavo
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy
| | - Aldo Giudice
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy
- Animal Facility, Istituto Nazionale Tumori—Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS)—“Fond. G. Pascale”, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Elena Ciaglia
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy
| | - Annibale Alessandro Puca
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy
- Cardiovascular Research Unit, IRCCS MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy
| | - Joseph Gonnella
- Center for Medical Research in Medical Education and Health Care, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Mario Capunzo
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy
- Complex Operational Unit Health Hygiene, University Hospital “San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d’Aragona”, 84131 Salerno, Italy
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Extreme Longevity: Analysis of the Direct or Indirect Influence of Environmental Factors on Old, Nonagenarians, and Centenarians in Cilento, Italy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19031589. [PMID: 35162611 PMCID: PMC8834812 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Longevity is rightly considered one of the greatest achievements of modern society, an achievement understood as the possibility of increasing the healthy part of life and not only its full duration. This study investigated the phenomenon of regional longevity in Cilento by analyzing the association between longevity indicators and some environmental factors, in order to understand if factors such as altitude, climate, UNESCO protected areas, and hinterland can directly or indirectly influence the measure of healthy living and lead to longevity. Demographic and environmental data were collected through the Archives of the Cilento municipalities, the National Institute of Statistics, the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, and the Italian National Commission for UNESCO. The Geographically Weighted Regression were used to determine the association between longevity indicators and environmental factors. Correlation analysis between the longevity indicators was investigated in order to have a complete picture of longevity in Cilento. It was discovered that Cilento longevity is mainly found in the central area of the territory and from there, by age groups, it widens towards the south-eastern area. This designated area is part of the hilly area of the Cilento, at an altitude between 400 and 700 m above sea level. The towns of this area are part of the UNESCO heritage and are characterized by a transitional climate between Mediterranean and temperate climate. Moreover, the correlation analysis between the six indicators of longevity has confirmed a linear relationship between the six variables and this indicates that in the years to come there will be the probabilities of a generational turn over between the old, great old, nonagenarians and current centenarians, provided that the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic subsides.
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Jeste DV, Di Somma S, Lee EE, Nguyen TT, Scalcione M, Biaggi A, Daly R, Liu J, Tu X, Ziedonis D, Glorioso D, Antonini P, Brenner D. Study of loneliness and wisdom in 482 middle-aged and oldest-old adults: a comparison between people in Cilento, Italy and San Diego, USA. Aging Ment Health 2021; 25:2149-2159. [PMID: 33000647 PMCID: PMC8012404 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2020.1821170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES There has been growing research interest in loneliness and wisdom in recent decades, but no cross-cultural comparisons of these constructs using standardized rating measures in older adults, especially the oldest-old. This was a cross-sectional study of loneliness and wisdom comparing middle-aged and oldest-old adults in Cilento, Italy and San Diego, United States. METHOD We examined loneliness and wisdom, using the UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3 (UCLA-3) and San Diego Wisdom Scale (SD-WISE), respectively, in four subject groups: adults aged 50-65 and those ≥90 years from Cilento, Italy (N = 212 and 47, respectively) and San Diego, California, USA (N = 138 and 85, respectively). RESULTS After controlling for education, there were no significant group differences in levels of loneliness, while on SD-WISE the Cilento ≥90 group had lower scores compared to the other three groups. There was a strong inverse correlation between loneliness and wisdom in each of the four subject groups. Loneliness was negatively associated while wisdom was positively associated with general health, sleep quality, and happiness in most groups, with varying levels of significance. CONCLUSION These results largely support cross-cultural validity of the constructs of loneliness and wisdom, and extend previous findings of strong inverse correlations between these two entities. Loneliness has become a growing public health problem, and the results of our study suggest that wisdom could be a protective factor against loneliness, although alternative explanations are also possible. Research on interventions to reduce loneliness by enhancing wisdom in older adults is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilip V. Jeste
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, USA,Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, USA,Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, USA
| | - Salvatore Di Somma
- Department of Medical-Surgery Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy,Great Network, Italy
| | - Ellen E. Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, USA,Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, USA,VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Tanya T. Nguyen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, USA,Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, USA
| | - Mara Scalcione
- Great Network, Italy,University of Rome La Sapienza School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
| | - Alice Biaggi
- Great Network, Italy,University of Rome La Sapienza School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
| | - Rebecca Daly
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, USA,Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, USA
| | - Jinyuan Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, USA,Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, USA,Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, USA
| | - Xin Tu
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, USA,Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, USA,Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, USA
| | - Douglas Ziedonis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, USA,School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, USA
| | - Danielle Glorioso
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, USA,Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, USA
| | | | - David Brenner
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, USA
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Ferro M, Lucarelli G, Buonerba C, Terracciano D, Boccia G, Cerullo G, Cosimato V. Narrative review of Mediterranean diet in Cilento: longevity and potential prevention for prostate cancer. Ther Adv Urol 2021; 13:17562872211026404. [PMID: 35173812 PMCID: PMC8842148 DOI: 10.1177/17562872211026404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Ferro
- Division of Urology, European Institute of Oncology (IEO) - IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lucarelli
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation – Urology, Andrology and Kidney Transplantation Unit, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Carlo Buonerba
- Regional Reference Center for Rare Tumors, Department of Oncology and Hematology, AOU Federico II of Naples, Naples, Campania, Italy
- National Reference Center for Environmental Health, Zoo-prophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici, Italy
| | - Daniela Terracciano
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University Federico II, Naples, Campania, Italy
| | - Giovanni Boccia
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cerullo
- Department of Movement Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Naples “Parthenope”, Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Cosimato
- Division of Laboratory Medicine – Civil Hospital “Maria SS. Addolorata”– Eboli, Salerno, Italy
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