Inside gorgeous UK islands where people live longer than anywhere else in nation | UK | News

A group of stunning islands has been named the best place in the UK to grow old – and according to locals, there are four main reasons for their remarkable longevity.

Research into so-called Blue Zones, which have a disproportionate rate of centenarians, has exploded this century. The designated areas, are: Okinawa Prefecture in Japan, Nuoro Province in Sardinia, Italy, the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica and Icaria, Greece and Loma Linda in California, USA.

And the best place to age in the UK, according to an Office for National Statistics study earlier this year, shares many of their characteristics.

The study named a beautiful cluster of islands as the healthiest spot in Britain for ageing well. They boast the highest average healthspan, representing the age to which residents can expect to live while maintaining good health.

Orkney, an archipelago situated off Scotland’s northeast coast, recorded a remarkable average age of 72.9. Other regions across the UK barely exceeded 60.

What lies behind Orkney’s remarkable success?

According to locals who have spent their entire lives breathing the island air, it comes down to four key factors, reports the Mirror.

Specialists are united in their view that a strong sense of community is vital to living longer. Once people stop working for financial necessity, it remains essential that they continue to find a sense of purpose.

Atlantic Health reports that maintaining meaningful connections with others has a significant bearing on long-term health and longevity – another characteristic observed across Blue Zones, which tend to be closely-knit communities.

Strong social bonds have a profound effect on both physical and mental wellbeing – lowering blood pressure, reducing inflammation and boosting cardiovascular health, while also acting as a safeguard against depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions.

Community spirit is something that Orkney has in plentiful supply.

Moira Kelday, 70, who runs the Stenness Diamond Club, a social group for the over-60s, told the i: “Community keeps us young. I don’t know anybody who just retires. People do volunteering and hobbies.”

Finally, diet is an obvious yet essential lifestyle factor that contributes to a longer, healthier life.

Donna Cuthbertson, 41, runs Orkney Dance and Fitness and specialises in working with older adults.

Having relocated from Maidstone in Kent nine years ago with her husband, a police officer, she is well placed to compare the lifestyles of Orkney’s inhabitants with those elsewhere in the country.

Donna noted that the islands have far fewer fast food options, with no delivery services such as Deliveroo or UberEats. There is also no McDonald’s, the world’s largest fast food chain.

Anyone craving the famous golden arches would need to board a ferry or catch a flight to the Scottish mainland.

Donna adds: “Residents are not sitting on the m25, getting home late and putting an oven pizza on. If stress levels are lower then you’re eating better.”

The Orkney Islands derive enormous benefits from their spectacular coastlines, just like those living in Blue Zones.

It is one characteristic these locations all share is that they are either coastal or situated very close to the sea.

There are numerous reasons why residing near the coast could enhance longevity. Lesley Palmer, a professor of dementia and ageing design at the University of Stirling, told the i: “The links to the Blue Zones are tempting. There are similarities around resilience [in the face of adverse weather/isolated lives], a lifestyle which encourages natural vigorous movement, purpose, and community.

“And Blue Zones are coastal, with high levels of daylight in the summer months.”

Additional advantages associated with coastal living include greater physical activity, reduced stress levels and improved air quality.

Keeping active is equally vital to maintaining good health well into old age – and the residents of Orkney are living proof of that.

Donna Cuthbertson told the i: “Orkney is good at social connection – everyone looks out for each other.

“They’re also good at moving, going out, and even when they retire, they don’t stop. They’re not just doing cardio, but that muscular, functional movement too.”

Specialists concur that regular physical activity preserves muscle mass while enhancing cardiovascular health and cognitive function.

In Blue Zones, it is commonplace for residents to walk to local shops and tend to their gardens by hand.