How Did the World’s Oldest Person Live So Long?

Highlights

• María Branyas Morera had a genetic profile linked to heart function, neuroprotection, and robust operation of the cell’s powerhouse—mitochondria.
• Researchers found an exceptionally high level of a specific type of bacteria in her gut, which is thought to counteract inflammation.
• Across 18 measurements of epigenetic age—age assessments based on molecular tags on DNA—Morera showed a significantly lower age than her actual chronological age, suggesting slowed aging.

Born March 4th, 1907, in San Francisco, the American-Catalan woman María Branyas Morera died at the age of 117 on August 19, 2024, in Olot, Spain. Her astounding longevity makes her among six people whom verifiable records indicate have lived that long, begging the question of what medical features distinguish her from the rest of the population.

Esteller and colleagues from 44 global institutions have published a non-peer-reviewed article, uncovering that María Branyas Morera had a genetic composition linked to heart function, neuroprotection, and robust mitochondrial operation. Moreover, she had high levels of a particular type of bacteria—Bifidobacterium—in her gut that is thought to confer anti-inflammatory properties, possibly due to consuming three yogurts daily. Furthermore, across six different tests of her epigenetic age, María Branyas Morera had a lower predicted age than the number of years she had lived (her chronological age). These findings suggest that multiple factors contribute to exceptional longevity, such as underlying genetic predispositions, optimal gut microbes, and a slower pace of epigenetic aging compared to the average.

María Branyas Morera’s Genetic Predisposition, Gut Bacteria, and Biological Age

Esteller and colleagues assessed blood, saliva, urine, and stool samples from María Branyas Morera while she was alive at age 116 to gain a better understanding of her physiological profile. From blood samples, the research team assessed genetic features that may distinguish María Branyas Morera from the majority of the population and contribute to her phenomenal longevity.

They found that she had seven rare genetic variants, which less than 1.5% of people with European ancestry have, that are associated with longevity or disease resistance. These rare variants are more specifically associated with immune function, cognition, heart function, and robust mitochondrial operation. These physiological processes related to María Branyas Morera’s rare genetic variants are believed to play roles in the aging processes, suggesting that her underlying genetic predisposition played a role in her exceptional longevity.

Because the gut microorganism composition has critical effects on systemic inflammation, cognition, as well as bone and muscle function, Esteller and colleagues assessed María’s stool microbes. Most notably, they found that one type of bacteria, Bifidobacterium, was about five times more abundant in her gut than in other adults aged between 61 and 91 years. Bifidobacterium is believed to be a beneficial gut bacterium and to confer anti-inflammatory effects. This finding suggests that a high percentage of Bifidobacterium in the gut may confer aging intervention properties.

“Importantly, the use of Bifidobacterium as a probiotic that could slow down the progression of many aging-associated disorders is gaining momentum,” said Esteller and colleagues in their publication. “Intriguingly, our healthy supercentenarian ingested around 3 yogurts every day containing Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, known to favor the growth of the described bacteria in the gut.”

DNA molecular tagging patterns (DNA methylation) have gained some degree of notoriety among aging researchers as a way to calculate an individual’s biological age—an assessment of how well tissues and organs function. As such, a lower biological age than chronological age, as predicted with DNA methylation, would suggest slowed aging.

To estimate María Branyas Morera’s biological age, Esteller and colleagues utilized blood, saliva, and urine samples and applied six different DNA methylation-based tests of biological age to each sample. Intriguingly, for each test (18 total), María Branyas Morera’s biological age was estimated to be around 10 to 30 years younger than her chronological age. These tests suggest that María Branyas Morera aged at a significantly slower pace than average.

“Overall, these data suggest that one of the reasons that our supercentenarian reached such a world record age was that her cells “felt” or “behaved” as younger cells, with a biological age of a centenarian,” said Esteller and colleagues.

Some Habits to Adopt Based On María Branyas Morera’s Example

María Branyas Morera never drank alcohol or smoked, which research suggests is a modifiable practice that anyone can adopt to extend their life without age-related diseases (a concept known as healthspan). Moreover, as mentioned, she consumed three yogurts a day, which could have contributed to her high percentage of beneficial gut bacteria. María Branyas Morera also ate a Mediterranean diet daily, which could have also aided her gut microbiome as well as her cardiovascular and cognitive function. Furthermore, she engaged in physical activity like walking daily, which research suggests contributes to longevity.

Thus, aside from having some genetic predispositions to living a longer life, María Branyas Morera practiced solid dietary and physical fitness-related habits. While it remains quite unlikely that any of us can live to 117, your future self may be grateful for longevity-optimizing choices you make in your younger years in an effort to live as long as you can.