The cloudy truth about ‘blue zones’

Summary: Have you heard of "Blue Zones"? They are famous places where people supposedly live to be over 100 years old. But the science behind them might not be perfect. Dr. Eric Topol and journalist Shelley Wood looked into the research and found that some of the data is messy. For example, there were missing birth records and even pension fraud in Greece!

Today, the Blue Zone name is a massive business that sells frozen food and signs $25 million city contracts. The good news? The basic health advice still works. You don't need expensive billionaire treatments to live a long, healthy life. Just focus on free, everyday habits. Get deep sleep to clear toxins from your brain, take walks, and spend time with friends.

For more details, see STAT News at statnews.com/2026/05/16/blue-zones-eric-topol-shelley-wood-interview-transcript/ (opens in new tab)