沖縄の長寿は今

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Since 1972, the time of Okinawa's return to Japan, the prevalence of centenarians and the average life expectancy of both male and female elderly (65+) in Okinawa, has been the highest in Japan. In my research on Okinawan longevity, I have found that longevity is not desirable solely for the increased length of one's life, but also must be accompanied by excellent health in order to be truly celebrated. To be considered "successful aging", one should have enjoyed a high quality of life throughout the life course up to and including a "super-elderly" stage. It might be said that they are people who have spent their long lives aging naturally, to some extent even by their own volition. We have carried out comprehensive medical examinations and sociological surveys of 675 centenarians since 1970, by visiting them in their own residential areas. As reported in our earlier results, it was discovered that the serum SOD level of healthy centenarians was higher than in the ordinary elderly septuagenarians. According to HLA-DR pattern analysis, the DRI allele, which was considered to be associated with enhanced immune reactions, was recognized in 6.1% of centenarians, compared to almost O% of ordinary septuagenarians. On the other hand, as we reported in Lancet (1987) a lower frequency of DR9, which has been considered to be related to the susceptibility to autoimmune diseases, was found. Although the above evidence shows the importance of hereditary factors environmental factors seem to be even more important. For example, the average life expectancy of Okinawans living in Brazil is 17 years shorter than Okinawans who live in Okinawa. According to statistical reports from the Ministry of Health. Labor and Welfare, extremely low mortality has been observed for coronary artery disease, stroke, and hormone dependent cancers of the breast, ovary, prostate, and colon cancer. We have done further analyses in order to extract the most important contributory factors leading to healthy longevity. The following (amongst other research findings) have proved important: low levels of LDL cholesterol, low levels of plasma lipid peroxide, high levels of estrogen, and high levels of hydroxyproline. These factors might hold important clues to successful aging in Okinawa. Related lifestyle interventions, such as the "Okinawa Program" might be developed as preventive measures against pathological aging, perhaps by the improvement of dietary habits or by diversion of negative stressors and healthier coping styles. Many of these traits might be hidden in the traditional culture and folk customs in Okinawa. We believe that the Okinawan traditional way of life quite possibly has contributed to Okinawan longevity.
沖縄国際大学の論文
2003-03-31

沖縄の長寿は今

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