Blue Zones Institute: Timeline

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1999  Dan Buettner organizes expedition to Blue Zones area of Okinawa

2000  Michel Poulain and Gianni Pes publish first article describing the Blue Zones area of Sardinia

2004  Michel Poulain and Gianni Pes publish research on Sardinia

2005  “Secrets to Long Life” cover story for National Geographic first identifies Okinawa and Loma Linda as Blue Zones areas—by Dan Buettner

2005  Dan Buettner first trademarks Blue Zones term in the United States

2006  First National Geographic expedition to Nicoya Peninsula, Michel Poulain leads verification effort, Dan Buettner leads overall team

2007  Second National Geographic expedition to Nicoya (“Blue Zones Quest”) to search for longevity explanation. Led by Dan Buettner, with Michel Poulain, Gianni Pes

Nov 2007  National Geographic publishes expeditions findings, first describing Nicoya as a Blue Zones Area—by Dan Buettner

2008  First National Geographic expedition to Ikaria, Greece. Michel Poulain leads demographic verification; Dan Buettner leads overall team

2008  Blue Zones: Lessons from World’s Longest-Lived People, describes Blue Zones Areas in Sardinia, Okinawa, Loma Linda and Nicoya—by Dan Buettner

2009  Second National Geographic expedition to Ikaria, Greece. Led by Dan Buettner, with Michel Poulain and Gianni Pes

2009  National Geographic publishes Ikaria findings first describing Ikaria as a Blue Zones Area—by Dan Buettner

2009  Dan Buettner launches first Blue Zones Project in Albert Lea, Minnesota.

2010 Michel Poulain, Gianni Pes and Luis Rosero Bixby publish research on Blue Zones regions

2012  “Island Where People Forget to Die” appears in New York Times describing Ikaria in detail—by Dan Buettner

2015  Blue Zones Solutions: Lessons on Living and Eating from the World’s Longest Lived People describes meta analysis of Blue Zones Areas Diets—by Dan Buettner

 

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