Imagine being alive and thriving, around to celebrate your 117th birthday and leave behind a legacy that’s more than just a world record and a lesson in longevity!Maria Branyas Morera was the world’s oldest person when she died at 117 years old in August 2024. She attracted scientific interest not just because she broke records and survived historic events, but because researchers believed her body might hold secrets about what allows humans to live extremely long lives.Now, a recent scientific study used many modern tools — genetics, microbiome analysis, biological “clocks,” immune profiling, and more — to study Maria’s cells and organs. The findings reveal both the typical signs of aging and surprising protections that appear to have helped her stay healthy far longer than almost anyone else.Read on to know more.
Maria Branyas Morera: The supercentenarian
Although there’s no escaping the march of time, supercentenarians (people who live past 110) like Maria Branyas Morera sometimes seem to bend its rules. In a new study, published in Cell Reports Medicine, scientists examined the life and biology of Maria and found that one key reason for her longevity was a genome unusually young in its behavior. The research suggested that rare genetic variants she carried were linked to longevity, strong immunity, and protection of her heart and brain.
What does the study reveal
Before she passed away in 2024, when she was recognized as the oldest living person in the world, Branyas voluntarily provided blood, saliva, urine, and stool samples. A team of Spanish scientists from the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute in Barcelona used these to study her biology in depth. They found that many of her cells “behaved” as if they were far younger than her chronological age, and that she had outlived the typical life expectancy of women in Catalonia by over 30 years.Despite her advanced years, Branyas showed strikingly good health in key systems. Cardiovascular measurements were excellent, and inflammation levels were unusually low. Her immune system and gut microbiome bore markers more typical of younger individuals, and she maintained extremely low levels of “bad” cholesterol and triglycerides while having very high levels of “good” cholesterol. All of these features help explain her remarkable resilience.
The lifestyle hacks
Her lifestyle also played a supporting role. Branyas followed a Mediterranean diet rich in probiotics – in fact, she reportedly ate three yogurts daily. She never smoked or drank alcohol and kept active in social, mental, and physical ways. These habits may have helped preserve her gut health and overall vitality. “The conclusion is that the clues for extreme longevity are a mix between what we inherited from our parents and what we do in our lives,” said lead researcher Manel Esteller, as reported by CBS News.
More surprises
That’s not all – the study also uncovered surprises. Branyas’s telomeres – the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes that typically shorten with age – were found to be extremely eroded. Normally, shorter telomeres are associated with a higher risk of disease and death, but in her case, they had not led to serious illness. This suggests that telomere length may indicate time passed, but not necessarily poor health. Scientists even speculate that her very short telomeres might have slowed cancer development in her body.“The picture that emerges from our study, although derived only from this one exceptional individual, shows that extremely advanced age and poor health are not intrinsically linked,” wrote epigeneticists Eloy Santos-Pujol and Aleix Noguera-Castells in the paper. The authors note, however, that because this study is based on a single person, caution is needed before generalizing the results to others.
So, do the genes have it all?
Not quite.While Branyas may have had rare genetic advantages, larger studies of other long-lived individuals also point to distinguishing biomarkers – traits that may help some people resist disease and age more healthily than others. More research comparing supercentenarians with peers who live shorter lives might reveal strategies or therapies to boost healthy life spans.
Why Maria’s story stands out? Because it reminds us that aging and decline are not inevitably tied. Through a mix of favorable biology and nurturing lifestyle, she exemplified how humans might reach very advanced ages while preserving much of their health.What’s the takeaway here? Well, scientists hope this case will guide future efforts to better understand how to age well, perhaps giving us clues to extend not just life, but quality of life.
