The Spanish woman who lived to 117: Scientists may have discovered the secret of longevity

Maria Branyas, who passed distant past twelvemonth successful Spain astatine the property of 117, held the rubric of the world’s oldest woman. Scientists who studied her genome judge that her biological property was overmuch little than her chronological age, which whitethorn explicate her singular longevity.

Before her decease successful August 2024, she consented to supply blood, saliva, urine, and stool samples, which were analyzed by Spanish researchers. The extremity was to comparison her results with those of different radical of a akin age.

Genetic Secrets of Longevity

The samples revealed that portion Branyas had markers of precocious age, she besides displayed strikingly “youthful” characteristics. She had low levels of inflammation, good gut health, and a “young” familial profile—changes successful cistron look without altering the DNA itself.

In addition, she carried rare familial variations that appeared to support her from communal diseases specified arsenic cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders similar Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Researchers described Branyas’s lawsuit arsenic “extraordinary”, noting that the findings supply caller insights into the biology of aging and suggest imaginable strategies for extending quality lifespan.

The Importance of Lifestyle

Despite the important relation of genetics, experts besides studied Branyas’s daily habits. She ate three yogurts a day, maintaining bully gut wellness and a steadfast assemblage weight. She followed a mainly Mediterranean diet, had a regular slumber schedule, exercised, maintained bully intelligence health, and actively participated successful societal life.

Her hobbies—reading, playing the piano, and gardening—rounded retired a balanced lifestyle.

The Challenge for Science

Researchers emphasized that Branyas’s lawsuit demonstrates that aging and illness are not ever interconnected, challenging the communal cognition that aged property inevitably leads to superior wellness problems.

Their study, published successful the technological diary Cell Reports Medicine, opens caller avenues for knowing healthy aging and reinforces the content that a combination of genetics and lifestyle tin assistance support radical steadfast for longer.