The Greek island that has nearly eradicated dementia – and the two drinks its residents swear by

11:07 4/3/2025 - Πηγή: iEfimerida

You’ve likely heard of the so-called “Blue Zones,” the five regions around the world identified by longevity expert Dan Buettner as areas where people commonly live past 100 years old.

In one of these regions, dementia appears to be almost nonexistent.

These zones include Okinawa in Japan, Sardinia in Italy,

Nicoya in Costa Rica, Loma Linda in California, and the Greek island of Ikaria.

Speaking on the “Live Well Be Wel”* podcast with Sarah Ann Macklin, Mr. Buettner recently revealed that Ikaria not only boasts some of the longest-living residents in the world but also has impressively low rates of dementia—a condition that seems to be combated, in part, through diet.

“The people of Ikaria, Greece, live about eight years longer than Americans on average, largely without dementia, without noticeable dementia,” Mr. Buettner said. An estimated 6.7 million Americans currently live with Alzheimer’s-type dementia, and that number is projected to rise to 13.8 million by 2060, according to data. Meanwhile, on Ikaria, Mr. Buettner noted, “we found every person over the age of 65, and there were only three very mild cases of dementia.”

So, what’s their secret?

On the “Blue Zones” blog, Mr. Buettner wrote that “Ikarians eat the strictest version of the Mediterranean diet in the world,” relying heavily on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, olive oil, and moderate amounts of red wine.

“But the Ikarian diet differs in that they eat much less fish and meat and far more greens,” he wrote.

“They regularly eat about a hundred types of wild greens they forage, and cultivated greens like amaranth, dandelion, fennel, and greens that in the U.S. we consider weeds and throw away.

These wild greens have 10 times more artery-clearing antioxidants than red wine.”

Mr. Buettner also noted that Ikarians are big fans of two beverages that may help them stay sharp well into old age: herbal tea and coffee.

“Ikarians drink herbal teas every day,” he wrote. “They make these brews with herbs they find around their homes, in their gardens, and in nature. Some of these include rosemary, sage, mint, and marjoram.”

A 2023 study found that tea consumption (green or black) was associated with a 29% reduced risk of dementia from all causes.

Similarly, the popular South African rooibos herbal tea was shown to mitigate the effects of Alzheimer’s symptoms, according to a 2024 study.

On his blog, Mr. Buettner noted that the teas Ikarians drink may be effective not only because they have anti-inflammatory properties but also because they act as mild diuretics.

“Diuretics are the first line of pharmaceuticals your doctor will prescribe if you have high blood pressure,” he wrote. “Diuretics keep your blood pressure low, help your kidneys flush out sodium, and help keep your arteries clean and wide, making blood flow easier.”

A 2013 study found that diuretic use was associated with at least a 50% reduced risk of Alzheimer’s dementia.

On the podcast, Buettner also emphasized that Ikarians drink “copious amounts of coffee.”

A 2010 study that followed participants for an average of 21 years found that consuming three to five cups of coffee daily during middle age was associated with a 65% reduced risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease later in life.

And a 2021 study showed that people who drank a combination of two to three cups of coffee and two to three cups of tea daily had a 30% lower risk of stroke and dementia compared to those who consumed neither.

Beyond coffee and tea consumption, Mr. Buettner noted that some of the things keeping Ikarians vibrant into old age include abundant social interaction and natural forms of exercise.

“Ikarians are far less likely to suffer from loneliness and depression compared to Americans,” he wrote. “Depressed people are 50% more likely to suffer from dementia.”

The Ikarian way of life—rooted in a nutrient-rich diet, daily herbal teas, and strong community ties—offers a compelling blueprint for longevity and mental clarity, challenging modern approaches to aging and health.

Διαβάστε περισσότερα στο iefimerida.gr