Sardinians walk more than the world average, are less stressed, and their hearts function better. These are some of the factors that could explain the secret of longevity on the island, according to the initial results of a study conducted by the startup Nuraxi, in collaboration with the University of Sassari.
Data from the Saba (Sardinia Aging Biomarkers Analysis) research, based on a sample of 1,500 people (395 of whom wore special devices), were presented today at Sa Manifattura in Cagliari during the event 'Longevity and telemedicine: the future is born in Sardinia'.
Study participants averaged 10,264 steps per day, a much higher number than those observed in major international benchmark studies, both in Europe and the US (28% more than the UK Biobank study and 47% more than the US "All of Us" study). The data collected suggests that a more social and less stressful life, along with daily exercise, may represent one of the pillars of longevity.
Gender differences also emerge. Men are more active on average (+1,236 steps per day), while women sleep more (7 hours and 4 minutes versus 6 hours and 47 minutes) but report higher levels of stress and a higher average resting heart rate (65.9 beats per minute versus 60.0).
Rather than indicating who lives longer, the data outlines different risk profiles, confirming the need for personalized approaches to prevention. And it is precisely this concept that underpins Nora, the AI-powered health assistant developed by Nuraxi. The Saba Study will continue.
"The preliminary data emerging are exciting because they offer a unique and multifaceted perspective," says Ugo Faraguna, professor of Neurophysiology at the University of Pisa and the study's scientific advisor. "If these initial results are confirmed in the final analysis, which will include all subjects still in the recruitment phase, we will have unprecedented instrumental verification of several key hypotheses. This information will be the 'right ingredients' to formulate the 'recipe' for quality longevity."
(Unioneonline)
