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Encyclopedia of Geropsychology pp 1–5Cite as

Okinawa Centenarian Study: Investigating Healthy Aging among the World’s Longest-Lived People

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Synonyms

Centenarians; Oldest-old; Healthy aging; Successful aging; Gene-environment interactions

Definition

This entry outlines the goals, methods, and results of the Okinawa Centenarian Study, an ongoing (since 1975) study of healthy aging among the oldest old in the southernmost prefecture of Japan and well known as a “Blue Zone” due to the longevity of its citizens.

There is wide variability in disease prevalence and lifespan across populations worldwide. Past studies have suggested that while genes are important to specific diseases, the majority of the variation in overall human lifespan is environmental. Important environmental factors include dietary habits, physical activity, smoking and other risk behaviors, societal and public health practices (e.g., immunization), and basic health care.

We know from human epidemiological comparisons that some populations, such as the Japanese and, in particular, the Okinawans, who inhabit the most southwestern prefecture of Japan, have high...

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Okinawa Research Center for Longevity Science, Urasoe, Okinawa, Japan

    Makoto Suzuki, D. Craig Willcox & Bradley Willcox

  2. Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan

    Makoto Suzuki

  3. Department of Human Welfare, Okinawa International University, Ginowan, Okinawa, Japan

    D. Craig Willcox

  4. Hawaii Lifespan and Healthspan Studies, Kuakini Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

    D. Craig Willcox & Bradley Willcox

  5. Department of Geriatric Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

    D. Craig Willcox & Bradley Willcox

  6. The Queen’s Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

    Bradley Willcox

Authors
  1. Makoto Suzuki
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  2. D. Craig Willcox
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  3. Bradley Willcox
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Makoto Suzuki .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Nancy A. Pachana

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© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore

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Suzuki, M., Willcox, D.C., Willcox, B. (2016). Okinawa Centenarian Study: Investigating Healthy Aging among the World’s Longest-Lived People. In: Pachana, N. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geropsychology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-080-3_74-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-080-3_74-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-287-080-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Social SciencesReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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