Maria Branyas Morera was the world’s oldest person when she died last year at the age of 117. Scientists studied her genes to understand why she lived such a long life.
Before she died, Maria gave doctors samples of her blood, saliva, urine, and stool. Doctors wanted to learn about her body and health to see what made her life so long. Researchers compared her with other women from Spain and Portugal, because Maria was born in the United States to Spanish parents but lived most of her life in Spain.
The study showed that her long life was a mix of good habits and lucky genes. Maria did not smoke or drink alcohol, she exercised often, and she spent time with other people. She also had special genes that helped protect her from diseases like heart problems, diabetes, and dementia. Her cells looked younger than her real age.
Scientists also looked at her gut microbiome, which is the bacteria inside the stomach and intestines. Maria had a lot of good bacteria called Bifidobacterium. This may have been helped by the yogurt she ate three times every day. These bacteria can protect the body from inflammation and help people stay healthy.
However, scientists warn that eating yogurt alone will not make someone live to 117. Some experts say the study of one person is not enough to explain why she lived so long. Maybe she was just very lucky. Other scientists add that things like money, health care, and lifestyle also play a big role in how long someone lives.
The main researcher, Manel Esteller, hopes that the results will help create new medicines to keep older people healthier. He says, “Maria’s parents gave her very good genes, but we cannot choose our parents.”
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