New Delhi: In a world where heart diseases and lifestyle disorders like type-2 diabetes are on the rise, only a few manage to live to be 100. Amid this, a woman called Maria Branyas managed to enter the centenarian club by living to be 117 years before passing away in 2024. And this has fascinated scientists a great deal, leaving them curious as to what factors could have contributed to her extraordinarily long life span. Before she died in 2024, she was the world’s oldest living person; she also volunteered to contribute samples of her blood, urine, saliva, and stool for a study.
Taking this, a team of researchers from the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute in Barcelona, examined her physiological and genetic makeup, which uncovered clues about her long and healthy life. Researchers noted that Branyas possessed rare genetic variants that improved brain function, heart health, and also boosted immunity. Therefore, her genome appeared younger than her chronological age. It helped her surpass life expectancy by over 30 years.
Branyas’s immune system and gut health were compared to younger individuals. Her heart health was seen to be near ideal, with low levels of bad cholesterol and triglycerides and unusually high levels of good cholesterol. Combining this, researchers painted a picture of a body that managed to dodge the effects of ageing. Furthermore, lifestyle played an essential role. Physically, mentally, and socially active, Branyas adhered to a Mediterranean diet including health foods like yogurt. Yet, genetic factors were the biggest advantage at hand.
Another intriguing factor was telomeres, protective caps located at the end of chromosomes. Branyas showed significant erosion, which is associated with longer life. The shortening also helped her stay safe from cancer. Researchers noted that their insights from the study for one individual needed more evidence to list longevity factors involved. Globally 10% people who reach 100 manage to make it to 110. The study appeared in Cell Reports Medicine.