All people in the Northern Netherlands growing old happily and healthy? It is possible with this roadmap | Healthwise Lustrum Conference on 3 April

Making the Northern Netherlands an area in which all people grow old happily and healthy, or a Man Made Blue Zone, is that possible? This question will be answered during the 1st Healthwise Lustrum Conference, organised by Centre of Expertise Healthwise (University of Groningen), Healthy Ageing Network Northern Netherlands (HANNN), Rabobank, the Municipality of Groningen and the Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health. Various scientists, policy makers and (healthcare) professionals share their knowledge about healthy ageing. Keynote speaker Prof. Koert van Ittersum also shares a step-by-step plan for the realisation of Man Made Blue Zones.

Man Made Blue Zones
The program is dedicated to the so-called Man Made Blue Zones. Blue Zones are defined areas in various places in the world, where people live longer and healthier. Demographer Michel Poulain, keynote speaker at our conference, discovered these Blue Zones. How is it possible that people in Blue Zones stay healthy well into old age? What can we learn from the Blue Zones when it comes to changing and improving the lifestyle of individuals?

Success factors for healthy ageing
Scientific research has shown that there are five success factors in the Blue Zones: physical activity, healthy diets, social engagement, life purpose and healthy living environment. During our conference, scientists share the latest findings on how these factors contribute to healthy ageing. In addition, policymakers tell us how they translate this into policy, and entrepreneurs share their practical experiences.

Step-by-step plan for a Man Made Blue Zone
Is the development of a Man Made Blue Zone feasible? During the conference, keynote speaker Prof. Dr. Koert van Ittersum will present a step-by-step plan for the realization of a Man Made Blue Zone, which he developed especially for this conference.

With (among others):

• Peter den Oudsten, Mayor of Groningen
• Wethouder Mattias Gijsbertsen
• Michel Poulain (first to discover Blue Zones)
• Prof. dr. Koert van Ittersum (Professor of Marketing and Consumer Well-Being, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Groningen)
• Multiple scientists, policy makers and (healthcare) professionals

For more information about the programme, go to: www.rug.nl/healthwise/mmbz