Living to the age of 117 borders on the unbelievable, but Maria Branyas Morera is living proof of it.
Maria Branyas Morera, or M116 as she is referred to in a groundbreaking scientific study, proves that the secret to a long and healthy life may be a good diet.
To understand what made M116 so unique, scientists analyzed its DNA, proteins, metabolism, gut microbiome, and epigenetics (the way gene expression is regulated).
Explanation: The gut microbiome is the community of all microorganisms (mainly bacteria, but also viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms) that live in our digestive tract, especially in the colon.
Samples were taken from blood, saliva, urine and feces, and compared with those of younger people, but also of others who had reached the age of 110. A series of analyses were carried out, which made it easier for researchers to understand the reason for this longevity.
The results showed that M116 had not reached this age just by luck, but as a result of lifestyle.
Gut microbiome: She had been eating three servings of yogurt a day for the past 20 years. Yogurt contains a variety of beneficial bacteria, which tend to decline in older people. This was not the case for her, as Maria's levels were unusually high.
Telomeres - tiny pieces of DNA located at the ends of our chromosomes: Although her telomeres were very short, which is usually associated with age-related diseases, Maria was in good health. In her case, telomeres functioned more as a "biological clock" than as an indicator of disease.
Rare genetic variations: Her DNA contained rare gene variants that helped her heart and brain function optimally. Unlike most older people, her immune system did not show the typical decline with age. Her cells behaved as if they were about 23 years younger than their actual age, and this was a key factor in her longevity.
Maria's story shows that longevity does not depend solely on genetics, but on the combination of biology, lifestyle and environment.
