Skip to main content

117-Year-Old Woman’s DNA and Diet Hold Secrets to Long Life, Scientists Reveal

 

117-Year-Old Woman’s DNA and Diet Hold Secrets to Long Life, Scientists Reveal


What if we could find a way that enabled us to live longer? Well, perhaps the best person to study in this regard would be the woman who previously held the record for the oldest person in the world. Maria Branyas Morera earned that title in January 2023, when she was awarded it by the Guinness World Records. Maria passed away in August 2024 at the ripe old age of 117. After analyzing her DNA, scientists believe they have found the factors that determine her long life span. Not surprisingly, many of these factors are driven by lifestyle choices, with a fair amount of genetic luck. 

What DNA Results Revealed About Her Long Life Span


Maria was on the 4th of March 1907, in San Francisco. Her parents had previously moved to the United States from Spain and Mexico. However, they returned to Spain during World War One, settling in Catalonia in 1915. There are very few people who can claim to have lived for so many years, watching the world change over the decades. Maria herself has seen so many loved ones come and go, so what differentiates her from those around her? How did she manage to live for 117 years in such good health? This is what the research team from Barcelona University set out to learn. 

The investigation took place at Barcelona University in Spain, where researchers analyzed Maria’s DNA and microbiome. The tests revealed that Maria had a “privileged genome” as well as the “microbiome of a child”. One of the researchers noted that Maria’s biological age was cut down by about 17 years due to her unique genes. Her daughter also stated that her mother was never sick, perhaps adding to her long life span. Maria was also said to have been blessed with a sharp mind and keen senses, with her hearing, memory, and eyesight only starting to fail her just before she died. 


The researchers also noted that Maria had exceptional blood sugar regulation, good cholesterol levels, and a well-balanced immune system. She also completely abstained from smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol. Maria ate three yoghurts every day as part of her Mediterranean diet. She was also still physically active, taking regular walks around. Social interaction also keeps the mind young and active, and Maria was regularly around friends and family. 

The Bottom Line


According to the researchers, those are the lifestyle factors to emulate if you wish to live longer too. They also noted that Maria’s life serves as a reminder that getting older does not necessarily mean getting sick. Staying socially integrated, physically active, and eating a healthy Mediterranean diet helped Maria live for 117 years. Most of all, she wasn’t just alive, she was healthy and thriving and capable of enjoying life. 

It’s also clear that it’s not only about what you put in your body, but also what you refrain from consuming. Maria’s long life span is the best example of the benefits of staying clear of vices like alcohol and tobacco. The title for the oldest (living) person in the world is currently held by Inah Canabarro Lucas. Inah is a nun from Brazil and was born on the 8th of June in 1908. This means that she is currently in her 116th year on earth. We wish Inah, and you, many many more years of health and prosperity! 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The devil waits at every crossroads: a walk between darkness and light on Dartmoor

  The devil waits at every crossroads: a walk between darkness and light on Dartmoor The new 38-mile Archangel’s Way, a pilgrimage route in a rugged corner of Devon, straddles Christendom and ancient pagan sites T he story of the church of St Michael de Rupe begins – as all the best Dartmoor stories do – on a dark and stormy night. A sailor, stricken in a wild and furious sea, fell to the deck of his ship to pray for salvation. The almighty unveiled a mountain in the midst of the tempest where the ship duly made landfall: in gratitude the sailor built a church on its summit. The devil – who had unleashed that evil storm – did his best to prise the church from its foundations, but Archangel Michael sprung to its defence and became the patron of this Devon parish. The tale has many versions, but this is the general gist. Today, St Michael de Rupe counts as the highest working church in southern England – poised dramatically on top of a western outlier of Dartmoor’s tor...
Post a Comment
Read more

How To Clean Battery Corrosion in Your Car

How To Clean Battery Corrosion in Your Car, Simply and Safely By:  Talon Homer   |   Feb 17, 2025   You wash, wax, and vacuum your car to keep it looking sharp. But have you ever considered cleaning things under the hood? By cleaning your battery terminals, you can actually help the car battery perform stronger, longer! We’ll show you how to clean the terminals and help prevent car battery corrosion in only FIVE steps – with materials you probably already have at home! Materials Protective gloves, like dish gloves Baking soda Water Old toothbrush Rag Petroleum jelly Step 1: Mix up your homemade battery cleaner. The recipe is simple. Mix one tablespoon of baking soda into one cup of water, and stir it together until it's thoroughly mixed. Step 2: Undo the cables from the battery and inspect it. Make sure your engine is off. Pop open your hood and remove the negative battery cable first. Then the positive cable attached to your battery. Some bat...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to decorate your new home like a professional

  How to decorate your new home like a professional 1. Paint a colorful front door Your front door is your home’s first impression. A bold, colorful door makes a statement before your guests even cross the threshold. It’s an easy, affordable upgrade that sets the tone for your  design aesthetic  throughout the rest of the home. As for which color to choose, go with your gut — and be sure to complement your home’s overall exterior paint and trim colors.  2. Give every room a focal point Decide where you want the focal point to be in each room (and no, it doesn’t have to be a TV!). Perhaps it’s a stately fireplace, a feature wall, or the gorgeous view through a floor-to-ceiling window. Whatever it is, arrange your furniture and accessories to highlight the focal point. Consider layouts that encourage conversation, too. 3. Layer your lighting For function and drama, you should have three kinds of lighting in any room: ambient, like the room-wide light that ...
Post a Comment
Read more