Doctors investigate DNA of 117-year-old woman to find one food that can unlock longer lives
“The picture that emerges from our study, although derived only from this one exceptional individual, shows that extremely advanced age and poor health are not intrinsically linked,” the researchers, led by epigeneticists Eloy Santos-Pujol and Aleix Noguera-Castells, said, according to Science Alert.
Dr. Esteller concluded:
Her own advice to a long life
Morera became the world’s oldest person when French nun Sister André died on January 17, 2023. Until her own death at the age of 117 years and 168 days on August 19, 2024, Morera held the title of the world’s oldest verified living person.
In March 2020, Branyas became the oldest person at the time to recover from COVID-19. In an interview with The Observer, she called for better treatment of the elderly, saying:
“This pandemic has revealed that older people are the forgotten ones of our society. They fought their whole lives, sacrificed time and their dreams for today’s quality of life. They didn’t deserve to leave the world in this way.”
Morera, whose Twitter biography read that she was “very old but not an idiot,” lived in Catalonia for the rest of her life. She had three children, 11 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. With the help of her daughter, she shared advice on Twitter, attributing her longevity to:
“Order, tranquillity, good connection with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, no worries, no regrets, lots of positivity, and staying away from toxic people.”
Maria Branyas Morera’s life is a testament to the power of good genes, healthy habits, and perhaps a little daily yogurt. Her story reminds us that aging doesn’t automatically mean declining health — and her legacy could help scientists unlock the secrets to longer, healthier lives.
