Ikaria, a small Greek island famed for its picturesque scenery and year-round warm climate, also boasts a population with some of the longest lifespans in the world.
One particular aspect contributing to their extended longevity is their notably low incidence of dementia. On the Live Well Be Well podcast hosted by Sarah Ann Macklin, longevity expert Dan Buettner provided some insight into the remarkably low rates of dementia among Ikarians.
He remarked: “(People from) Ikaria, Greece live about eight years longer (on average than US citizens), largely without dementia, no discernible dementia.”
Following his mention of Ikaria’s impressive statistics regarding dementia, Sarah highlighted to him that the disorder is presently the leading cause of death in the UK among individuals of a certain age bracket.
Dan responded: “Well, people ought to be paying attention to the way people live in Ikaria, because we found every person aged over 65, (and) there were only three very mild cases of dementia.”
In his quest to uncover the secrets behind the world’s areas known for their high longevity, it was during Buettner’s time in Ikaria that he began to identify local health practices potentially linked to their scarce dementia rates.
Herbal Tea
In his book, The Blue Zones – Secrets for Living Longer, Dan proposed that the regular consumption of herbal tea could be one factor behind their prowess in warding off the condition.
“Many Ikarians treat themselves to a cup of herbal tea every day, often using wild herbs harvested from the rocky island and sweetened with local honey,” he wrote. Importantly, he noted that these common herbs are not only mild diuretics but also contain anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, which may be a factor in the low prevalence of cardiovascular disease and dementia on Ikaria.
Coffee
Moving on to coffee, Dan highlighted its significance in the Ikarian diet and in other regions known for longevity. He stated that the islanders consume “copious amounts of coffee”, and that this habit has correlations with reduced rates of dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
Supporting Dan’s assertion is ample research, including a 2021 study published in the PLOS Medicine journal by a team of Chinese and American scientists. They discovered that individuals who drank two to three cups of coffee along with two to three cups of tea daily had about a 30 percent lower risk of dementia or stroke in comparison to non-consumers of these beverages.
For more information on dementia, you can visit the NHS website here.