Scientists have discovered the ageing secrets of one of the world’s oldest women. Maria Branyas has held the title of the world’s oldest verified person from 2023 until her death in August 2024 at the ripe old age of 117. Born in San Francisco on March 4th 1907, she moved to Spain as a child, where she lived a full and honest life. Exceptional DNA, a healthy diet and emotional stability earned her the title.

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The study of the exceptional and most efficient Maria Branyas.

The study, led by Professor Manel Esteller from the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute in Barcelona, and a team including academics from the University of Leicester, found that Maria had an exceptionally enriched genome. A genome contains all the information needed for an individual to develop and function, a complete set of DNA found in a cell. It was discovered that Maria’s genome was enriched in variants in genes that are associated with enhanced lifespan.

When Maria was 116, researchers took blood, saliva and stool samples. She was devoid of gene variants that cause cancers, Alzheimer’s or metabolic disorders. She had a low level of blood lipids. Lipids are a fat-like substance found in your blood and body tissue. Everyone needs a small amount for their bodies to function, but if lipid levels are too high, it can cause fat deposits in artery walls, increasing the risk for heart disease.

The scientists found that Maria was on the list of the most efficient levels of lipids in a human ever reported. She showed no signs of dementia and had a biological age 23 years younger than her chronological age.

Researchers examined her lifestyle: Maria avoided alcohol and smoking, ate sugar-free yoghurt daily, and followed a Mediterranean diet rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes and olive oil. Researchers believe this contributed substantially to her longevity. The study showed she had enhanced detoxification and antioxidant responses, indicating strong cellular stress defences.

Dr Thong Cao from the University of Leicester’s cardiovascular sciences department explained, “Our role was to use advanced mass spectrometry to study thousands of proteins circulating in the blood of this exceptionally long-lived individual.”

Professor Esteller said, “Molecular ‘workhorses’ of the body provide important clues about health and disease.” He concluded, “By comparing her protein profile with those of other women across different age groups, we could see what was unique about her biology.”

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More about Maria…

When Maria and her family moved to Spain, they first settled in Barcelona and then moved to the city of Banycles. Maria got married and was a nurse during the war. She had three children, but her husband sadly died in 1976. She remarried and in the 1990s she travelled to Egypt, Italy, the Netherlands and England. She enjoyed sewing, music and reading. At 93 years old, she moved into an old people’s home where she was an active resident, able to exercise and was still playing the piano at 98. When she was 108, she started to use a voice-to-text platform to communicate due to hearing loss. In March 2020, she was the oldest person to survive COVID. On the 19th of August 2024, Maria died from natural causes, without pain and peacefully in her sleep.

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Could you live to 117 years old?

The chance of living to the ripe old age of 117 is extremely low. Genetics, diet and lifestyle play a crucial role in longevity, but a lot boils down to luck too. Have you been lucky enough to have the rare genetics like Maria Branyas? Only time will tell.

Apart from genetic luck, other factors that led to Maria living a full life included her diet, lifestyle and emotional stability.

Maria ate a frugal Mediterranean diet, which scientists believe played a significant role in her longevity. It is an eating regime that consists of eating minimal processed plant foods, reducing the risk of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, atrial fibrillation and breast cancer.

Eating a diet full of vegetables, fruits, and legumes can have lipid-lowering effects, it can protect against oxidative stress, inflammation and platelet aggregation.

Try these Mediterranean diet recipes.

As you consider adopting a Mediterranean eating style, you might also find our product, Natures Marvels® Blood Vessel Bioregulator, helpful. Natures Marvels® Blood Vessel Bioregulator is a peptide that supports blood vessel function. It can be part of the treatment for atherosclerosis in various body regions as well as support during psychoemotional stress, impaired microcirculation, and vascular disease prevention.

It was also documented that Maria was emotionally stable. Use this Emotional wellness toolkit to help you manage your emotions, reduce stress, help with sleep, mindfulness and coping with loss.

Would you want to live to 117? I’m not sure.

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https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Genome

https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/what-you-should-know-about-blood-lipids

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgq0xzwqzeo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Branyas

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7190876/