S. Jay Olshansky

While the island's initial longevity recognition gained international fame for its rare abundance of long-lived men, the new findings reveal a distinct demographic phenomenon centered entirely around women.

According to research led by University of Illinois Chicago epidemiologist S. J. Olshansky, women in Boletana who reach the age of 70 have an estimated 13.8% chance of surviving to a century, with an average remaining life expectancy of nearly 21 additional years.

That probability is nearly four times higher than the national averages observed across Italy and the United States.

placing Boletana women alongside residents of Hong Kong as one of the longest-lived female populations recorded in modern demographic literature.

Olshansky noted that while females generally outlive males across global populations, the original Sardinian Blue Zone was unique for its male longevity.

Boletana breaks that regional baseline by demonstrating a profound, female-driven longevity advantage.

The findings carry heightened scientific weight because researchers were able to rigorously validate every recorded centenarian through centuries of meticulously preserved civil birth registers and parish baptismal archives.