Nick Buettner

Nick Buettner is a world explorer, longevity researcher, and vice president at Blue Zones, LLC. Buettner has focused his career on uncovering the factors that contribute to the longevity of the world's longest-lived populations and translating those insights into actionable strategies for communities and organizations. Collaborating with his brother Dan Buettner, National Geographic, and leading longevity researchers, Buettner has identified regions where people live significantly longer and healthier lives, with centenarian rates 10 times higher than in the United States.

Throughout his career, Buettner has led 17 expeditions across six continents, including three to Blue Zones sites. He served as executive producer for the Blue Zones expeditions to Okinawa, Japan; Costa Rica; and Ikaria, Greece. In his role with the Blue Zones team, Buettner coordinated field production operations and worked with Good Morning America, CNN, AOL, WCCO, and National Geographic Channel to produce live events from remote locations worldwide.

After identifying five Blue Zones, Buettner and his team, in partnership with National Geographic, brought scientists to each location to study lifestyle characteristics associated with longevity. Their research identified nine common traits, known as the Power 9, shared by residents of these regions. When these principles were implemented in Albert Lea, Minnesota, in collaboration with AARP and the United Health Foundation, participants experienced an estimated increase of 2.9 years in average lifespan and a 49% reduction in healthcare claims for city workers, outcomes highlighted by Harvard's Walter Willett.

Buettner leads the development and implementation of the Blue Zones Project in communities and corporate sites. The Blue Zones Project is a community-wide well-being initiative that impacts the health of more than 5 million people across the United States. He is also the co-creator of "MayaQuest," an internet-based education program used nationally, reflecting his ongoing work in educational technology. Through his research, Buettner has determined that 80 percent of a healthy long life is based on behavior, with only 20 percent attributed to genetics, a finding central to his public health messaging.

Buettner has delivered more than 100 presentations worldwide, using National Geographic photography and storytelling to share insights from the world's longest-lived cultures. He addresses common myths about longevity and provides a science-based blueprint for Americans to improve their well-being and potentially add 12 quality years to their lives. Buettner's experience in global exploration and evidence-based health strategies positions him as a knowledgeable contributor to discussions on longevity, public health, and community well-being.