A journalist's journey to a remote Greek island, home to one of the world's longest-lived populations, has uncovered profound insights into the art of ageing well. Visiting Ikaria, a Blue Zone where residents routinely live past 90 with startlingly low rates of chronic disease, she found the secret isn't just about diet—it's woven into the very fabric of community life.
The Centenarians of Ikaria: Defying Age with Spirit
The island of Ikaria, with its 8,000 inhabitants in the northeastern Aegean Sea, is famed as one of the planet's five Blue Zones. It was recently named one of Greece's top islands by Lonely Planet. Here, the journalist, Tara Brown from 60 Minutes Australia, met individuals whose vitality defied their years.
She shared coffee with 100-year-old Gregoria Tas in the town square, who happily ate ice cream and smoked a cigarette. He credited local red wine for strength and invited others to stay in his village to achieve similar age. Another resident, 99-year-old Evangela Canava, remained remarkably lucid, admitting she doesn't take life too seriously and is "addicted" to Pepsi.
Christoulus Porus, 95, outlined his simple health philosophy: a diet rich in beans, vegetables, milk, and eggs, sleeping on a firm mattress, and embracing a bit of hardship. "Some adversity in life is beneficial," his approach suggests, "whilst excessive comfort can prove detrimental."
The Expert View: Comfort vs. Community
Dan Buettner, the researcher who identified the Blue Zones, echoed this sentiment. He explained these regions are isolated, with tight-knit communities relatively untouched by Western influences. "Our incessant reaching for more comfort may not really be the best route for longevity or indeed even happiness," Buettner noted. "A little bit of hardship I think tempers human life."
He stressed that Ikaria's elderly never chased longevity; it happened naturally. "Most astoundingly, we found almost no signs of dementia," Buettner revealed. "So not only are these people living a long healthy life, they are reaching the end and they are very sharp."
Cardiologist Dr. Christina Chrysohoou, who studies the island's elderly, found some centenarians had cardiovascular health decades younger than their chronological age. When asked about genetics, she hinted at "something special" at play beyond mere heredity.
The Ultimate Secret: Purpose and Connection
While the Mediterranean diet, mountainous terrain requiring daily walking, and natural hot springs all contribute, Tara Brown pinpointed one overarching factor. At a local celebration, she observed no generational divides—young and old mingled freely at shared tables, with no one sitting in isolation.
Dr. Chrysohoou believes this deep social integration is fundamental and often overlooked by science. "They are useful in their community until the very end," she said. This, she argues, is the core secret: "Not only living up to advanced age, but also having a good quality of life which means good mental stress without depression. And in order to have that you must have a purpose in your life until the very end."
Concluding her investigation, Tara Brown reflected on the accessible simplicity of Ikaria's wisdom. "If all it takes is good food, wine and good company," she remarked, "what's not to love?" The island offers a powerful lesson: longevity is not just about adding years to life, but life to years, through unwavering community and purpose.
