She lived to be 117 years old πβ Researchers now know why
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TaraDeS β 6 months ago(October 04, 2025 01:02 AM)
She lived to be 117 years old β Researchers now know why
Maria Branyas Morera lived for 117 years.
Now, an analysis of her body reveals what made her so exceptionally healthy.
And what we can learn from it.
Maria Branyas Morera: In 2024 she celebrated her 117th birthday.
β¦.
β¦.
https://www.t-online.de/gesundheit/aktuelles/id_100935084/117-jahre-alt-forscher-enthuellen-geheimnis-der-einst-aeltesten-frau.html
October 02, 2025
Happy Weekend! -
The rest of the story β 6 months ago(October 04, 2025 03:49 AM)
Maria Branyas Morera lived for 117 years. Now an analysis of her body shows what made her age so extraordinarily healthy and what we can learn from it.
The skin becomes more wrinkled, the hair gray, but Maria Branyas Morera's body ages much more slowly than most other people. When she died in 2024, she was considered the oldest person in the world at 117 years old. And the amazing thing is that she was physically and mentally fit until her death. How could that be?
A research team from Barcelona asked themselves this question and was given a unique opportunity: Branyas allowed the scientists to comprehensively examine her medically while she was still alive. The results provide surprising clues as to how a healthy aging process works.
The once oldest person in the world helps research
Maria Branyas Morera was born in San Francisco in 1907, grew up in Catalonia, survived two world wars, several pandemics and reached an age that few people in the world reach. At the age of 116, she voluntarily underwent extensive medical screening: The researchers analyzed blood, saliva, urine and stool β not just once, but several times over a year.
The data were incorporated into a large molecular biology study, which has now been published in the journal "Cell Reports Medicine". Their goal: to find out what allowed Branyas to age so extraordinarily healthily.
A contradictory biological profile
The DNA examination revealed a fascinating picture: In her body, typical signs of old age were found at the same time as features that were more reminiscent of a much younger person.
On the one hand, Branyas had extremely short telomeres. These are protective caps at the ends of the chromosomes that become shorter with each cell division. Short telomeres are considered a classic sign of age. Their immune system also showed age-related changes: for example, more overripe B lymphocytes, which indicate advanced immune aging.
On the other hand, their epigenetic profile, i.e. the control of genes, seemed surprisingly young. Her metabolic values were also more likely to indicate a 90-year-old: low LDL ("bad" cholesterol), high HDL ("good" cholesterol), stable blood sugar levels and a very low inflammatory status. Above all, however, she did not suffer from any chronic illness until the end and was mentally completely clear.
Genes played a major role
In their genome, the researchers also found several gene variants that are associated with a long lifespan, including the so-called APOE allele. Neuroprotective genes, which protect brain cells from damage, were also present in her homozygous, i.e. duplicated.
Particularly striking: All known gene variants associated with an increased mortality risk or shortened lifespan were missing from their samples.
However, the team led by study leader Eloy Santos-Pujol emphasizes: "Genetics alone does not explain everything." Although Branyas' genetic makeup was a stroke of luck, her lifestyle also played a decisive role.
Mediterranean diet and a strong microbiome
Maria Branyas Morera lived modestly, ate a lot of vegetables, fruit, legumes and apparently yoghurt very regularly. Why is this important? The analysis of their microbiome, i.e. the entirety of their intestinal bacteria, showed a remarkably healthy, young profile. So-called bifidobacteria, which normally decline sharply in old age, dominated. These bacteria are considered anti-inflammatory and support digestion and the immune system.
This suggests that not only genes, but also food can have a major influence on healthy aging. The researchers suspect that the regular consumption of fermented foods such as yogurt had a positive effect on the intestinal microbiome and thus possibly also kept the number of inflammations in the body low.
What we can learn from the case of the 117-year-old
So what makes this woman an exceptional case? According to the study, it was the combination of:
a rarely favorable genetic predisposition,
a stable, low-inflammation metabolism,
a young, resilient microbiome and
an overall healthy lifestyle.
According to the epigenetic clock, her biological age was about 23 years below her actual age. This means that although she was 116 years old at the time of the examinations, her cells worked like those of a 90-year-old woman.
And now you know. -
TaraDeS β 6 months ago(October 04, 2025 05:18 AM)
/.γ € October 04, 2025 07:16 AM
Member since May 14, 2025
they're just pushing more "science" culture horseshit like all those buzzwords actually mean something real. that article is basically ai slop.
thanks for the translation, btw
There are some mistakes in the translation and the formatting is a bit annoying.
But other than that, really wonderful. -
Livingness β 5 months ago(October 05, 2025 04:57 PM)
Maria Branyas Morera lived modestly, ate a lot of vegetables, fruit, legumes and apparently yoghurt very regularly. Why is this important? The analysis of their microbiome, i.e. the entirety of their intestinal bacteria, showed a remarkably healthy, young profile. So-called bifidobacteria, which normally decline sharply in old age, dominated. These bacteria are considered anti-inflammatory and support digestion and the immune system.
This suggests that not only genes, but also food can have a major influence on healthy aging. The researchers suspect that the regular consumption of fermented foods such as yogurt had a positive effect on the intestinal microbiome and thus possibly also kept the number of inflammations in the body low.
This is the most interesting finding. I wonder if introducing a more youthful gut microbiome into older people would extend lifespan. -
TaraDeS β 5 months ago(October 05, 2025 05:45 PM)
Livingness October 05, 2025 06:57 PM
Member since July 11, 2020
This is the most interesting finding.
I wonder if introducing a more youthful gut microbiome into older people would extend lifespan.
You hit on something. Why not starting with younger people?
The problem with such
'manipulation'
is, finding the right balance.
And this man is certainly an interesting research subject, but I wouldn't do what he does.
https://www.filmboards.com/t/Don't-Die/Don't-Die-
β-The-Man-Who-wants-to-Live-Forever-3590431/
Schrodinger's Cat walks into a bar, and doesn't. 