A groundbreaking study focusing on Maria Branyas Morera, who lived to the remarkable age of 117, has unveiled potential factors contributing to her extraordinary lifespan. According to a report by CBS News, Morera passed away in 2024, recognized as the oldest known person at the time. Before her death, she expressed a desire to be studied, leading to an extensive three-year analysis of her health and biological samples.
Researchers, led by Eloy Santos from the Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, were committed to minimizing disruption to Morera's life during the study. “During her lifetime, we extracted samples that would cause the least possible disturbance to her,” Santos explained. The samples included saliva, blood, urine, and feces, ensuring a respectful and ethical approach to the research.
The results of the study, published on September 24 in the journal Cell Reports Medicine, revealed essential factors that may have influenced Morera’s longevity. Researchers examined her genomic, transcriptomic, metabolomic, proteomic, microbiomic, and epigenomic landscapes across various tissues and compared them with younger populations. Despite showing signs of aging, Morera did not exhibit major age-associated diseases, highlighting a unique aspect of her health.
The study concluded that the key to extreme longevity appears to be a “balance between nature and nurture.” Dr. Manel Esteller, a study author and chairman of genetics at the University of Barcelona’s School of Medicine, stated, “The clues for extreme longevity are a mix between what we inherited from our parents and what we do in our lives.”
Among the findings, researchers noted that Morera possessed genetic variants that provided protection against common diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, and neurodegeneration. Additionally, she had an efficient lipid metabolism, an anti-inflammatory gut microbiome, and an epigenome linked to chromosomal stability and slowed epigenetic aging.
Morera’s lifestyle also played a crucial role in her longevity. Born in San Francisco to Spanish parents, she relocated to Spain at the age of eight and embraced a healthy lifestyle throughout her life. The study highlighted her strong physical and mental health, balanced Mediterranean diet, good sleep habits, and active social life, which included quality time with family, reading, gardening, and playing the piano.
Interestingly, the study found that Morera regularly consumed yogurt containing beneficial bacteria known to promote the growth of Bifidobacterium in the gut. This bacterium is associated with anti-inflammatory responses and may play a significant role in healthy aging. Researchers suggested that her yogurt consumption could be a dietary habit linked to a healthy aging process and long lifespan.
However, the researchers cautioned that the link between Bifidobacterium dominance and her yogurt diet cannot be conclusively established without long-term sample collection. They emphasized that aging and longevity are likely individualized processes influenced by various factors, urging caution in drawing universal conclusions from a single case study.
Overall, the study challenges the traditional perception that aging equates to illness. As Santos remarked, “We have the concept that aging is equivalent to illness and that one thing necessarily goes hand in hand with the other. But this woman has shown us that, to a certain extent, this doesn’t have to be the case.” This research opens new avenues for understanding the complex relationship between age and health, providing hope for future studies on longevity.
As we continue to explore the factors that contribute to a long and healthy life, the insights gleaned from Maria Branyas Morera’s life and health may pave the way for new approaches to aging and disease prevention.
