The Secret of María Branyas Morera’s 117 Years: What Science Learned from the World’s Oldest Woman

Before her passing on August 19, 2024, scientists at the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute in Barcelona, Spain, undertook one of the most detailed biological investigations ever performed on a supercentenarian. Their subject, María Branyas Morera, lived to be 117 years old — the oldest verified person in the world according to Guinness World Records (Guinness World Records, 2024).

Led by Dr. Manel Esteller, director of the Cancer Epigenetics Group, the team employed non-invasive sampling techniques to study three different tissue types. The goal was to uncover the molecular and genetic mechanisms behind Branyas’ exceptional longevity and robust health. Their results were later published in Cell Reports Medicine (Esteller et al., 2024).

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Mapping a Life Through Molecules

Researchers performed a comprehensive “multi-omics” analysis, examining her:

• Genome (DNA sequencing)

• Epigenome (DNA methylation patterns)

• Transcriptome (RNA expression levels)

• Proteome (protein expression profiles)

• Metabolome (small molecules such as cholesterol and glucose)

While the data clearly showed the typical cellular signs of aging, the team also found unique biological advantages: genes linked to neuroprotection, cardioprotection, and an overall low-inflammation profile. These factors are known to reduce the risk of neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases (BBC News, 2024).

“Branyas had an exceptional genome enriched with variants associated with extended lifespan in other animal species, including dogs, worms, and fruit flies,” Dr. Esteller told Fox News Digital (Fox News, 2024). “At the same time, she lacked variants associated with cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and metabolic disorders.”

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The Gut–Brain–Longevity Connection

Perhaps one of the most surprising findings came from Branyas’ microbiome. Her gut was rich in Bifidobacterium, a beneficial bacterium associated with lower inflammation, better digestion, and stronger immunity (National Geographic, 2024).

The researchers attributed this to her lifelong habit of eating yogurt daily, a food known to encourage gut diversity. “We explained to her that her yogurt consumption and the bacterial composition of her gut could be key contributors to her long lifespan,” Dr. Esteller noted.

Her lipid profile was equally remarkable — low total cholesterol, low LDL, and high HDL — a pattern typically seen in much younger individuals. Esteller suggested this balance was due both to her genetic resilience and her frugal Mediterranean diet, which emphasized olive oil, fresh vegetables, and very few processed foods (The Guardian, 2024).

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A Life of Simplicity and Positivity

Branyas never smoked or drank alcohol and maintained a stable routine even in old age. Her family described her as “disciplined but cheerful,” with a love for music, reading, and the company of her grandchildren.

Born in San Francisco in 1907, she moved with her family to Spain as a child, surviving both World Wars and the Spanish Civil War. Despite losing her husband at a relatively young age, she maintained what she once called “a life full of affection and curiosity.”

According to Guinness World Records, until her final days she remained mentally sharp, with only mild hearing and mobility issues (Guinness World Records, 2024).

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Younger on the Inside

Using epigenetic clocks — biomarkers that estimate biological age based on DNA methylation — the team found that Branyas’ biological age was approximately 23 years younger than her chronological age. “Her cells appeared to be functioning as though she were 94, not 117,” Esteller explained (CNN Health, 2024).

Her telomeres, the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes, were surprisingly short, yet her cells still functioned efficiently. “This demonstrates that short telomeres alone do not dictate health decline,” the researchers wrote.

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Key Longevity Factors Identified

Esteller’s team highlighted six major biological and lifestyle traits contributing to Branyas’ exceptional health span:

1. A protective genome with longevity-linked variants.

2. A metabolism that efficiently cleared harmful fats and sugars.

3. Low chronic inflammation, a major marker of healthy aging.

4. An immune system capable of fighting pathogens without triggering autoimmune disorders.

5. A youthful gut microbiome with anti-inflammatory bacterial strains.

6. A biological age significantly lower than her chronological one.

Together, these findings suggest that aging and illness are not the same process — one can age without suffering disease, a conclusion echoed by longevity researchers worldwide (Nature Aging, 2024).

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Lessons for the Future of Aging Science

The study offers potential guidance for both medicine and lifestyle. As Esteller noted, “Identifying genes linked to supercentenarians could help us design more intelligent therapies to extend healthy life.”

He added that dietary adjustments, such as consuming more fermented foods and reducing processed sugars, could not only prevent obesity and diabetes but may also promote longer lifespan through improved gut health.

Other experts agree. Dr. Luigi Fontana, a leading researcher on calorie restriction at the University of Sydney, told The Guardian that Branyas’ case “supports the growing evidence that modest diets, strong social ties, and low inflammation are cornerstones of extreme longevity.”

Ultimately, the researchers concluded that her extraordinary life was the product of genetics, lifestyle, and a generous dose of luck — something Branyas herself had always believed. “Longevity,” she once told Guinness, “is about luck and good genes — but also about staying curious, kind, and grateful.”