María Branyas Morera reached 117 due to genetics, study concludes

María Branyas Morera Lived to Age 117 Through Genetic Resistance to Age-Related Illness

María Branyas Morera died in August 2024 at 117 years old after scientists analyzed her genome to uncover the biological mechanisms behind her extreme longevity, CNN Brasil reported. Researchers at the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute in Barcelona published a study in Cell Reports Medicine concluding that Branyas lived to be a supercentenarian because she won the genetic lottery, possessing specific genes that protected her against common age-related diseases while maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Genomic Analysis Reveals Protective Traits and Lower Biological Age

Manel Esteller, a co-author of the study and researcher at the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, stated that Branyas never smoked, never drank alcohol, worked as long as she was able, lived in the countryside, and engaged in moderate exercise like walking for an hour every day. Her diet followed a Mediterranean pattern that included olive oil and three daily portions of yogurt, a habit researchers believe helped maintain a youthful gut microbiome and reduced inflammation levels. Epigenetic clocks measuring internal biological processes showed her average estimated age was roughly two decades younger than her chronological birth date.

The research team identified three specific genetic factors in Branyas: one associated with immune function and cognitive retention, another influencing how the body metabolizes fats, and a third linked to brain health and age-related heart disease. These findings led investigators to demonstrate that extreme old age and poor health are not inherently linked, proving that physical decline in later life arises from specific biological mechanisms rather than an inevitable fate.

Scientific Caution Surrounds Single-Subject Longevity Findings

Claire Steves, a professor of aging at King’s College London who was not involved in the study, cautioned against drawing generalized conclusions from research focused on a single individual, noting that the aging process varies for every person. Steves stated that examining only one person makes it difficult to confirm whether the observed traits stem from pure luck or clear biological relationships, though she acknowledged that such single-subject studies still offer valuable insights into human biology. Steves added that extending human healthspan will not rely on a single magic bullet, but will instead require targeting multiple different biological pathways.