Researchers closely examined the life of the world’s oldest person at the time to uncover the secrets behind her long life.
Maria Branyas Morera reached the age of 117 in August 2024 before her passing.
Prior to her death, she had a singular wish: that medical professionals would investigate the reasons for her longevity.
Dr. Manel Esteller, a leading expert in genetics at the University of Barcelona’s School of Medicine, took on this task, and his findings were remarkable.
Published on September 24 in the Cell Reports Medicine journal, the study provided insights into Morera’s health.
The research involved analyzing her blood, saliva, urine, and stool to understand the factors behind her long life, revealing that a mix of lifestyle and genetic factors played a significant role.
In January 2023, the Guinness World Records acknowledged Morera as the oldest living person following the passing of 118-year-old Lucile Randon in France.
As her obituary states, Morera was married to a physician for four decades in Spain, with whom she had three children before becoming a grandmother.
In the two decades leading up to her passing, she resided at the Residència Santa María del Tura nursing home in Olot, Spain, with her daughter frequently sharing her life and wisdom on X.
Her perspective on life was one that many could aspire to, choosing to view life as a blessing rather than a burden.
“Life is not eternal for anyone,” she shared in January 2023 on social media. “At my age, a new year is a gift, a humble celebration, a new adventure, a beautiful journey, a moment of happiness. Let’s enjoy life together.”
Her philosophy was mirrored in her approach to self-care, avoiding habits detrimental to health, such as smoking or drinking alcohol.
She remained active in her work life until she could no longer do so, as noted by the doctor to CNN.
He stated: “She lived in the countryside, she did moderate exercise [mostly walking one hour a day] … She had a diet that included olive oil, Mediterranean style and, in her case, yogurt.”
Her regular consumption of yogurt might have helped keep chronic inflammation, a common cause of disease and aging, at bay.
She consumed three yogurts daily, but her remarkable genetic makeup also played a role.
It appears her genes offered protection against typical issues like high cholesterol, dementia, heart disease, and cancer.
“She had cells that seemed younger than her age,” Esteller shared with the New York Times.
“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 the researchers, led by Eloy Santos-Pujol and Aleix Noguera-Castells.
Maria Branyas Morera enjoyed a fulfilling life until August 20, 2024, when her family announced that she had passed away ‘peacefully’ in her sleep.
“Maria Branyas has left us. She has died as she wanted: in her sleep, peacefully and without pain,” they expressed. “We will always remember her for her advice and kindness.”