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Why Okinawans live long, healthy lives
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This is an archived version of the site. It is for historical reference only.

Elderly Okinawans have among the lowest mortality rates in the world from a multitude of chronic diseases of aging and as a result enjoy not only what may be the world's longest life expectancy but the world's longest health expectancy. Centenarians, in particular, have a history of aging slowly and delaying or sometimes escaping the chronic diseases of aging including dementia, cardiovascular disease (coronary heart disease and stroke) and cancer. The goal of the Okinawa Centenarian Study is to uncover the genetic and lifestyle factors responsible for this remarkable successful aging phenomenon for the betterment of the health and lives of all people.

The Okinawa Centenarian Study (OCS) is a population-based study of hundred-year-olds (centenarians) and other elderly in Okinawa, Japan. The study began in 1976, after the Japan Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare confirmed initial reports of outstanding health and long life in Okinawa through validation of birth certificates and other statistical data. Since then our research group has investigated over 600 centenarians to uncover clues to their outstanding health and long lives. Studies have concentrated on the genetics, diets, exercise habits, and psychospiritual beliefs and practices of the Okinawan elders.

US life expectancy poor compared with Okinawa and other long-lived populations

When Dr. Suzuki, the Principal Investigator of the OCS, first began his studies, he found an unusual number of centenarians to be in extraordinarily healthy shape. They were lean, youthful-looking, energetic, and had remarkably low rates of heart disease and cancer-even stomach cancer, which claimed many mainland Japanese. And they enjoyed the longest life expectancy in the world. By 1995, according to Japan Ministry of Health and Welfare life tables, Okinawan life expectancy had even surpassed the absolute limits of population life expectancy estimated by the Japan Population Research Institute and many biodemographers (see Fries JF. New England Journal of Medicine 1980;303:131-5).

Mortality Rates in Long-Lived Populations
Age Adjusted Death Rates (per 100,000 people)
Rank* Location Life Expectancy Eating Pattern CHD** Cancer Stroke All Causes
1 Okinawa 81.2 East-West 18 97 35 335
2 Japan 79.9 Asian 22 106 45 364
3 Hong Kong 79.1 Asian 40 126 40 393
4 Sweden 79.0 Nordic 102 108 38 435
8 Italy 78.3 Mediterranean 55 135 49 459
10 Greece 78.1 Mediterranean 55 109 70 449
18 USA 76.8 American 100 132 28 520

* Average life expectancy world rank
** Coronary Heart Disease
Sources: World Health Organization 1996; Japan Ministry of Health and Welfare 1996

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