Dr. Martine Kirwin

Dr. Martine Kirwin, Assistant Professor, UMB School of Nursing

Blue Zones are regions where people live longer and healthier lives. In Costa Rica, the Nicoya Peninsula was validated as a Blue Zone in 2007, but a recent study suggests the presence of an emergent zone of high longevity in northern Costa Rica. This development grant will help build collaborative research partnerships with Costa Rica and lead to the first study examining dietary habits of long-lived individuals in this emerging Blue Zone. This study aims to determine the diversity and quality of the diet, as well as the current dietary lifestyle habits of the long-lived people in the emerging Blue Zone of northern Costa Rica. In partnership with the University of Costa Rica (UCR) professors, the Inter American Center for Global Health (CISG) and the Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone Association, the project will conduct a comprehensive mixed methods field study, including validated dietary assessment questionnaires and interviews with local centenarians. By integrating quantitative and qualitative methods, we aim to identify key nutritional components and lifestyle factors that promote longevity. This study will not only provide scientific understanding of aging and nutrition but also provide insights for public health strategies aimed at improving longevity and quality of life in other regions like the United States particularly in Maryland.