ABC News Medical Mystery - Secret to Long Life - Stoccareddo Italy

In the foothills of the Italian Alps is a tiny village that may hold a clue to a medical mystery that has challenged researchers for centuries. Despite indulging in an artery-clogging diet that could make even an Italian grandmother cringe, the 400 or so residents of tiny Stoccareddo, Italy, have virtually no heart disease or diabetes, and often live into their 90s.

While at first glance nothing seems to be unusual about the town, a closer look reveals almost everyone is related and shares the same last name of Bau (pronounced Bow-ooh). According to Amerigo Bau, the unofficial town historian, the first Bau family arrived in Stoccareddo from Denmark about 800 years ago and ever since, Baus have been marrying Baus.

"It happened because the twon was in the mountains," explains Amerigo Bau. "It was isolated, and so the likelihood of marrying another Bau was quite strong."

Most Baus tended to marry more distant relatives and not first cousins, which can cause genetic defects.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Mystery
• Long
• Life
• Longevity
• Health
• Healthy
• Fat
• Diet
• Stoccareddo
• Italy
• Italian
• Alps
• Village

[KetAnthony]

White power. =)

[longestnameuwillsee1]

ummmm weird

[grimm862]

unreal