Luca Deiana is a professor of clinical biochemistry at Sassari University, on the Italian island of Sardinia. Dubbed a “Blue Zone” by researchers, the average life expectancy of this area is 82 years, with 22 people out of every 100,000 living past 100. As a result, Dr Deiana has been studying its residents for years, hoping to unlock the secret to their longevity.
It was revealed during Amazon Prime’s “Steps to the Future” how he identified the same protein time and time again.
The narrator explained in 2010: “This is Marianna Ferreri, 101 years old, proudly displayed behind her are photos of her parents and grandparents.
“All of them have reached very old ages.
“Professor Deiana revealed to us that by studying the blood of the Sardinian centenarians he recently discovered proteins which have a vital role in longevity.”
In 2015, Dr Deiana released a research paper, where he identified the protein to be transthyretin (TTR).
This is a transport protein in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid that carries the hormone thyroxine and retinol-binding protein bound to retinol.
Dr Deina’s ran a study on the plasma concentration of TTR during the ageing process, using a sample of 211 subjects of equal age and sex.
His study found: “In the [Sardinian] subjects aged between 60 and 99 years, plasma TTR concentrations were higher compared to the reference ranges reported by national figures.
“Moreover, unlike other studies, sex-related differences in TTR concentrations were only observed in nonagenarians and centenarians.
“We hypothesise that there are TTR-related genetic differences between the Sardinian population and other Caucasian ethnic groups.
“Further studies and a larger sample are needed to confirm our hypothesis.”
However, it was clarified during the Amazon Prime series, that this plasma may be just one factor among many contributing to a longer life.
It continued: “Longevity is not only inherited, but lifestyle plays a very important role.
“A diet based on mediterranean products explains part of the Sardinian’s longevity.
Magdalena Sata has just celebrated her 100th birthday, this woman who is still strong has had the same diet her entire life, just like her parents and her grandparents.
“Red wine, Sardinian red wine – every centenarian drinks one glass during a meal.
“It contains 60 to 70 percent of polyphenol, which is a substance found in plants and it protects cells.”
