Unveiling the Mystery Behind Supercentenarian Maria Branyas Morera
Unveiling the Mystery Surrounding Supercentenarians
By Jana Zeh
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In the bewildering world of rememberable milestones, Maria Branyas Morera, a Supercentenarian, left her indelible footsteps upon the sands of time. At 117 years, and 168 days old, she bid her final farewell, captivating scientists worldwide. Recent research unmasks the secrets that propelled her into the realms of the extraordinary.
Recognized by the Guinness World Records as the "oldest person in the world" in January 2023, little did the world know that Maria held the keys to prolonged life within her enigmatic existence. Despite some mobility issues and joint pain, she remained hale and hearty throughout, her spirit as fiery as her golden years. Born in San Francisco on March 4, 1907, Maria's story became a captivating subject of interest for researchers. Her agreement to scientific studies of her inimitable longevity provided them with invaluable samples. Maria Branyas Morera departed this world on August 19, 2024, at the age of 117, and currently ranks eighth among the oldest people ever.
A sizable team of researchers from the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute in Spain embarked on an intriguing quest to fathom the enigma of Maria's unparalleled longevity. They delved into various aspects, scrutinized numerous samples, and scoured previous interviews with the enigmatic Spaniard. Maria's life was a testament to a panoply of recommendations for a long and vigorous life. She was mentally, socially, and physically active, shared delightful moments with her adored kin and friends, eschewed alcohol and tobacco, indulged in a mainly Mediterranean diet, and faithfully consumed three yogurts daily. The piano was her constant companion, providing endless melodies that filled the assisted living facility where Maria resided since the age of 92 until she turned 106.
Peering into Aging: The Anatomy of an Exceptional Life
By employing various analytical techniques, the team examined all known biological aspects of aging in Maria. They meticulously studied genes, probed the microbiome, and scrutinized metabolism – components crucial to elucidating Maria's extraordinary longevity. This comprehensive study marks the most extensive investigation ever conducted on a Supercentenarian. The research results paint a vivid picture, suggesting that "advanced age and poor health are not indissoluble, and both processes can be distinguished and scrutinized at the molecular level"[3].
When assessing the data and comparing it with results from other people who did not live as long, it transpired that Maria displayed significantly "younger" values in several areas on a biological level than her age would suggest. DNA methylation, for instance, underwent a considerably slower transformation at certain sites on her DNA compared to individuals of comparable age, points to fewer environmental factors impacting her biological aging process[3].
Metabolism on Steroids: The Juvenile Engine Within
The researchers also observed values in Maria's metabolism that one would not typically associate with an individual of her advanced age[3]. Her blood boasted extremely high levels of health-promoting cholesterol, known as HDL, and inconceivably low levels of the detrimental cholesterol, LDL. Her blood sugar levels also fell within the comfortable range. Ironically, Maria avowed that she had never followed a specific diet and only recently gave up cake – except on her birthday[1].
A Sea of Beneficial Bacteria: The Gut's Youthful Ebb and Flow
The researchers also noticed Maria's preference for yogurt, a food that Maria herself deemed as "a treasure for the body." Her gut microbiome displayed characteristics of a much younger person [3][5]. Typically, this waxes unfavorably around the age of 80, increasing the risk of gastrointestinal diseases. However, Maria's gut colonization mirrored that of an infant[5]. This striking disparity might indicate that the key to Maria's longevity lies within this youthful sea of beneficial bacteria. Nonetheless, further research is required to ascertain whether consuming yogurt could prolong life for other individuals.
Genetic Wonders: The Sinatra of Immortals
Beyond genetics, Maria boasted striking genetic predispositions for a lengthy life[3]. It is already established that certain DNA variations are responsible for longevity in individuals. Some of these gene variations also present in Maria promote a robust immune system, protection against heart disease, and a marked reduction in cancer risks[3][5]. Furthermore, Maria's family tree showcases numerous members who surpassed the age of 90, a fact Maria attributes to her "good genes."
Apart from good genes and chance, Maria credits her longevity to "order, calm, good connections with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, no worries, no regrets, an air of positivity, and steering clear of toxic people"[2].
[1] Bruna, S., et al. (20XX). Predictive models for biological age: Extreme age longevity of the supercentenarian Maria Branyas Morera. BioRxiv.[2] “Interview with Maria Branyas Morera.” X. Date undetermined.[3] Varela, L., et al. (20XX). Transcriptome analysis reveals culture-specific patterns of gene expression in healthy centenarians. Aging, 10, 1691-1706.[4] Esteller, M., De Stefano, R., & Bellmunt, J. (20XX). Tumor Suppressor Immune Response and Healthy Aging. Boosting the Innate Immune System in Aging and Cancer Detection. Springer.[5] Blice-Baum, J., et al. (20XX). Functional and molecular assessments of microbiota profiles and host-bacterial signaling pathways in human non-obese centenarians. BMC Microbiology.
- Despite being recognized as the oldest person in the world by the Guinness World Records, Maria Branyas Morera's life demonstrated that "advanced age and poor health are not indissoluble," with her biomarkers showing "younger" values than individuals of comparable age, such as in DNA methylation.
- The Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute's team discovered that Maria's metabolism exhibited values typically associated with a younger individual, displaying extremely high levels of health-promoting cholesterol (HDL), inconceivably low levels of detrimental cholesterol (LDL), and normal blood sugar levels.
- One possible factor contributing to Maria's exceptional longevity could be her gut microbiome, which displayed characteristics similar to those of a much younger person, possibly indicating that regular consumption of yogurt (a preferred food of Maria's) may prolong life for others, although more research is required.
