The Okinawa Centenarian Study

The older population of Okinawa in Japan are famed for their healthy lifestyle and positive attitude to living. They have not only one of the lowest mortality rates but also are known for living to a ripe old age in good health.

The centenarians among this group stand out for their slow ageing process and for their greater freedom from life threatening illnesses such as coronary heart disease and stroke, cancer and dementia.

The aims of the study are to ascertain what are the factors involved in this "ageless ageing" process. The results should prove to be interesting and helpful for everyone seeking a long and healthy life.

Since the study began in 1975 data has been gathered concerning the demographics of all centenarians in the area. The respondents are a subsample of over 900 centenarians who have been assessed completely on all areas of their lives.

At the beginning of the study, Dr Suzuki the Principal Investigator of the OCS was amazed to find high numbers of centenarians in a very healthy state. They looked younger than their years, were slim, strong and full of energy. Few suffered diseases such as heart disease and cancer not even the stomach variety which afflicts many Japanese mainlanders.

The excellent life expectancy of the Okinawans exceeded even that of the rest of Japan as estimated by the Japan Population Research Institute, at 81.2 as compared to 79.9 in the rest of Japan. The figures for death rates for coronary heart disease (CHD) are 18 for Okinawa as compared to 22 in Japan generally and around 100 for the USA and Sweden. Death rates from cancer in Okinawa are 97 as compared to 106 in the rest of Japan and 132 in the USA and 135 in Italy. From stroke the death rates in Okinawa were 35 as compared to 45 in Japan as a whole and 70 in Greece, while the figure for the USA is surprisingly low at 28. But the total death rates from all causes are the most telling, with 335 in Okinawa, 364 in the rest of Japan and 520 in the USA.

In Okinawa nearly 600 of the 1.3 million population are actually living into their second century. Many look much younger than their actual years and are quite active. The study should shed some light as to how some people manage to stay active and young in spirit while others falter much earlier on in life.

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