Opinion: What can ‘blue zones’ really teach us about aging?

PodcastFirst Opinion Podcast What can ‘blue zones’ really teach us about aging? An interview with Eric Topol and Shelley Wood Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Torie BoschMay 13, 2026 Editor, First Opinion Torie Bosch[email protected]Torie Bosch is the First Opinion editor at STAT. In 2023, Netflix released a documentary titled “Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones,” which looked at some small, geographically isolated places around the world in which, reportedly, residents regularly lived to 100 or beyond. It was just the most recent installment to a longevity franchise that began roughly 25 years ago. But how real are “blue zones”? And has the concept’s commercialization drowned out its scientific value?Advertisement Medical journalist Shelley Wood, author of the novel “The Leap Year Gene of Kit McKinley,” and cardiologist Eric Topol, author of “Super Agers,” recently teamed up recently to write a First Opinion essay examining blue zones at 25 years. They joined me on this episode of the “First Opinion Podcast” to discuss their findings and how the idea of blue zones fits into the current longevity craze. They argue that the concept, which originated with mountain villages in Sardinia, Italy, may have been flawed from the start, given how many records were destroyed by World War II — but that it still promotes some valuable ideas, especially in an age of longevity pseudoscience. Be sure to sign up for the weekly “First Opinion Podcast” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Get alerts about each new episode by signing up for the “First Opinion Podcast” newsletter. And don’t forget to sign up for the First Opinion newsletter, delivered every Sunday. aging, public health Submit a correction requestReprints Torie Bosch Editor, First Opinion Torie Bosch is the First Opinion editor at STAT. Newsletter Weekly alerts when a new episode drops from STAT’s First Opinion podcast Recommended First Opinion May 13, 2026 Access to air conditioning is critical preventive care. But federal policy treats it as optional First Opinion May 13, 2026 RFK Jr.’s antidepressant deprescribing push gets one thing right — and others dangerously wrong Advertisement Opinions+ May 12, 2026 STAT Plus: Pharma and biotech leaders are destroying their own industry First Opinion May 11, 2026 What addiction medicine can teach us about depending on AI First Opinion May 11, 2026 AI doctors should be licensed. Here’s a framework to do that Subscriber Picks