Maria Branyas Morera, a supercentenarian from Spain, lived an extraordinary 117 years before passing away last year.
During her remarkable lifetime, she witnessed two world wars, 21 American presidents, and countless innovations that transformed the world beyond recognition.
Born in the United States, Maria moved to Catalonia in 1915, where she spent the rest of her long and fulfilling life. Before her death, she made a special request: she asked doctors to study her DNA to uncover the secrets behind her exceptional longevity—hoping that what they learned could help others live longer, healthier lives.
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| Maria Branyas Morera/ Guinness World Records |
This wish led to a scientific study in Spain conducted by researchers from the University of Barcelona and the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute. The team collected samples from Maria and analyzed her cells and genetics, according to The Mirror.
Dr. Manel Esteller, the principal investigator, told The Times, “The common rule is that as we age, we become sicker—but she was an exception, and we wanted to understand why. For the first time, we’ve been able to separate being old from being sick.”
He added, “We can develop drugs to reproduce the effects of good genes. Maria’s parents gave her excellent genes, but we cannot choose our parents.”
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| @MariaBranyas112/X |
The findings were remarkable: biologically, Maria was estimated to be 10 to 15 years younger than her chronological age. In other words, even at 117, her body resembled that of someone in their early 100s. She also had exceptionally low levels of “bad” cholesterol and triglycerides, and very high levels of “good” cholesterol.
Maria lived a wholesome lifestyle—she stayed active, avoided smoking and alcohol, and maintained a rich social life. But one of her favorite daily habits might also have contributed to her longevity: eating yoghurt from her beloved Spanish brand, La Fageda, known for its probiotic, inflammation-fighting bacteria.
Each morning, Maria started her day with a cereal smoothie made from eight different types of grains, The Mirror reported.
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Interestingly, scientists also discovered that Maria’s telomeres—the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes—were significantly eroded. Typically, shorter telomeres are associated with aging and higher mortality. However, recent research suggests they may not be a reliable aging marker in extremely old individuals. In Maria’s case, her unusually short telomeres might have actually helped prevent cancer cell growth, according to Science Alert.
As researchers Eloy Santos-Pujol and Aleix Noguera-Castells noted, “The picture that emerges from our study, although derived from this one exceptional individual, shows that extreme age and poor health are not necessarily linked.”
Dr. Esteller concluded, “The clues for extreme longevity are a mix between what we inherit from our parents and how we live our lives. The balance varies, but it’s likely about half and half.”
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