Before her passing, Maria Branyas Morera, the world’s then-oldest living person, made a profound request: “Please study me.” This plea was directed to Dr. Manel Esteller, chairman of genetics at the University of Barcelona’s School of Medicine.
A resident of Olot, Spain, she passed away last summer at an astonishing age of 117.
Dr. Esteller and his extensive team of colleagues diligently honored her final wish, conducting thorough examinations of Ms. Branyas’s blood, saliva, urine, and stool to uncover the biological underpinnings of her exceptional lifespan.
According to findings published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine, part of the answer lies in her diligent self-care. She adhered to a Mediterranean diet, abstained from smoking and alcohol, and maintained a daily hour-long walk until it became physically challenging in the early 2000s. Crucially, she also appears to have won a “genetic lottery,” possessing variants that researchers suggest could predict remarkable longevity. These specific genetic traits are thought to offer protection against prevalent health issues such as high cholesterol, dementia, heart disease, and various cancers.
“Her cells appeared remarkably youthful for her chronological age,” noted Dr. Esteller.
He further explained that her microbiome – the community of microbes living within and on her body – was linked to low inflammation levels. Specifically, her microbiome contained a rich abundance of beneficial Bifidobacterium, a type of bacteria often stimulated by yogurt consumption. Indeed, Ms. Branyas enjoyed three yogurts daily.
“Elevated inflammation is a known factor in accelerating the aging process,” Dr. Esteller emphasized.
Immaculata De Vivo, a molecular geneticist at Harvard University, who was not part of the research team, found the explanations for Ms. Branyas’s extraordinary lifespan to be “scientifically reasonable.”
However, she advised caution, stressing that “it’s crucial to be careful when interpreting findings from individual cases, especially compared to large, well-structured population studies.” While genetic and metabolic elements can influence disease susceptibility, “disease development is typically a matter of probabilities, not certainties,” Dr. De Vivo explained.
Essentially, simply having “good genes” and a healthy microbiome alone won’t guarantee an exceptionally long life.
Dr. Mary Armanios, an oncologist and geneticist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, expressed some skepticism regarding claims that specific genetic variants can definitively predict longevity.
“The genetic landscape of longevity is notoriously intricate,” she stated. She pointed out that studies often compare the genes of younger individuals with those of centenarians, yet there’s no way to know if those younger participants will actually reach the age of 100.
“Ideally, one would want a genetic profile capable of accurate prediction,” she said, acknowledging such a tool remains elusive.
Dr. Armanios underscored that genetics and a healthy microbiome represent only a fraction of the complex equation behind exceptional longevity. She highlighted significant disparities in life expectancy tied to socioeconomic factors, citing a stark 20-year difference between residents of inner-city Baltimore and its surrounding suburbs.
“While detrimental genetics can undeniably shorten a lifespan,” she concluded, “I remain unconvinced that favorable genetics alone are enough to surmount significant socioeconomic challenges.”
Regardless of the intricate factors, Ms. Branyas herself demonstrated extraordinary resilience throughout her life.
Born in San Francisco in 1907, her parents, originally from Spain, had emigrated to the United States for employment. At the age of eight, following her father’s death, Ms. Branyas and her mother returned to Spain.
She later married and had three children: a son who passed away at 52, and two daughters who are currently 92 and 94 years old.
While various members of her extended family succumbed to common ailments such as Alzheimer’s disease, accidents, cancer, tuberculosis, kidney failure, and heart disease, Ms. Branyas continued to defy expectations, living a remarkably long life.
It appears she possessed all the theorized prerequisites for a long life. Assuming her genetic variants indeed offered the protective effects suggested, she was genetically predisposed to avoid chronic diseases. Coupled with this, her lifestyle seemed nothing short of ideal.
Dr. Esteller highlighted her robust social network, noting that she cultivated a close circle of family and friends, and gracefully formed new connections as old ones faded. She also remained in the same town as her family throughout her life.
Ms. Branyas lived independently until 2001, when increasing difficulty with walking prompted her move into a nursing home. Remarkably, she continued to play the piano until just five years prior to her passing.
“She truly led a healthy life,” Dr. Esteller concluded.