This study aimed to assess the impact of a specific dietary pattern on overall survival among elderly people in three rural Greek villages. The researchers used a validated semiquantitative questionnaire to assess dietary habits over a one-year period and followed 182 elderly residents for survival. The diet was scored based on eight components of the traditional Mediterranean diet, including high monounsaturated:saturated fat ratio, moderate ethanol consumption, high legume and cereal intake, high fruit and vegetable consumption, low meat and dairy intake. A one-unit increase in the diet score was associated with a significant 17% reduction in overall mortality. The study concluded that a diet meeting current health criteria can predict survival among elderly people. The findings support the hypothesis that the traditional Mediterranean diet, which is still widely followed in rural Greece, has beneficial effects on health and survival.This study aimed to assess the impact of a specific dietary pattern on overall survival among elderly people in three rural Greek villages. The researchers used a validated semiquantitative questionnaire to assess dietary habits over a one-year period and followed 182 elderly residents for survival. The diet was scored based on eight components of the traditional Mediterranean diet, including high monounsaturated:saturated fat ratio, moderate ethanol consumption, high legume and cereal intake, high fruit and vegetable consumption, low meat and dairy intake. A one-unit increase in the diet score was associated with a significant 17% reduction in overall mortality. The study concluded that a diet meeting current health criteria can predict survival among elderly people. The findings support the hypothesis that the traditional Mediterranean diet, which is still widely followed in rural Greece, has beneficial effects on health and survival.