Maria Branyas Morera, who lived to 117 years old before passing away in August 2024, was recognized as the oldest person in the world last year. Before her death, she made a simple yet profound request: for doctors to study her physiology to uncover the secrets behind her extraordinary lifespan.
Dr. Manel Esteller, chair of genetics at the University of Barcelona’s School of Medicine, led the research team that analyzed samples of her blood, saliva, urine, and stool. Their findings, published in Cell Reports Medicine, reveal that Maria’s exceptional longevity was due to a combination of genetics and lifestyle choices.
Maria maintained a Mediterranean-style diet rich in olive oil and yogurt, consuming three yogurts daily, which contributed to reducing chronic inflammation, a major factor in aging and disease. Genetically, she lacked common variants associated with dementia, heart disease, and cancer, and her cells appeared younger than her chronological age.
Her mindset towards life was equally inspiring, seeing each new year as a gift and choosing to live with gratitude and kindness until her peaceful passing in her sleep.
