117-річна довгожителька з Іспанії Марія Браньяс/Wiki
Scientists from the Josep Carreras Institute for Leukemia Research in Spain have analyzed the factors that helped Catalan resident Maria Branias live to the age of 117.
The woman died in August 2024 at the age of 117 years and 68 days and at that time was considered the oldest person in the world. The researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis of the long-lived woman’s genes, proteins, microbiome, and metabolism to discover the secret of her longevity.
The results obtained by the scientists have yet to be reviewed. However, the findings already provide insight into how to extend life expectancy. According to the researchers, only one person in ten who has lived to the age of 100 has a chance to live the next 10 years.
Scientists have found that Maria Branias was socially and physically active, spending a lot of time with her family and friends, which helps prevent the development of dementia. The woman also had a healthy diet, mostly following the Mediterranean diet, which is also associated with longer life expectancy.
Among other things, Maria preferred yogurt. According to the researchers, this choice helped the long-lived woman to form healthy bacteria in her intestines. The scientists made sure that the woman’s gut microbiome had characteristics similar to those of people much younger.
«Microorganisms play an important role in determining not only the metabolic composition of our bodies, but also inflammation, intestinal permeability, cognition, and bone and muscle health», — the authors of the study explain.
Gene variations in human DNA have long been considered critical in determining mortality factors. Maria had genes that provided her with stronger immunity, protection against heart disease, and a reduced risk of developing cancer.
As part of the study, the researchers also examined DNA methylation — chemical markers that affect gene expression
«It is noteworthy that all the different age determination algorithms based on DNA methylation gave the same result. Our supercentenarian woman demonstrated a much younger biological age than her true chronological age, and this occurred in the three different tissues analyzed», — the researchers emphasize.
According to scientists, among other factors that ensured Maria Branias’ longevity was a highly efficient metabolism that contributed to a decrease in «bad» cholesterol and an increase in — «good» cholesterol, as well as low levels of inflammation. The woman herself stated that her longevity was ensured by an orderly lifestyle and a pleasant environment.
«The picture that emerges from our study shows that extremely old age and poor health are not intrinsically linked and that both processes can be distinguished and disassembled at the molecular level», — the scientists say.
The results of the study are published on the preprint server BioRxiv
Source: Science Alert