What enables a small group of people to reach ages beyond 110, becoming supercentenarians? A groundbreaking study of Maria Branyas, who lived to be 117 and was the world’s oldest verified living person until her death in August 2024, offers some answers. Published in Cell Reports Medicine, the research used an advanced “multiomics” approach—analyzing DNA, gene activity, blood, saliva, stool, and gut bacteria—to uncover biological factors linked to her remarkable longevity.
- Rare Protective Genes: Researchers found Maria Branyas carried uncommon genetic variants that shielded her from major age-related illnesses like cancer and heart disease, helping her reach 117 in relatively good health.
- Low Inflammation: Her blood showed low levels of inflammatory markers, suggesting her body avoided the chronic low-grade inflammation that typically accelerates aging and disease.
- Youthful Gut Microbiome: Despite her age, her gut bacteria resembled that of a much younger person, including high levels of Bifidobacterium, a beneficial microbe usually lost with age.
- Biological Age vs. Chronological Age: DNA analysis revealed her biological age was decades younger than her actual age, indicating her body was aging more slowly than expected.
Study of the world's longest-lived person reveals rare genes and good bacteria are among the keys to a long life
The study’s central finding challenges the common belief that aging inevitably brings poor health. Branyas displayed biological markers of aging, such as shortened telomeres and an aged immune cell population, but she remained free of major age-related illnesses such as heart disease and cancer. This suggests that under rare conditions, aging and disease can be uncoupled.
Her blood also contained unusually low levels of inflammatory markers. Chronic low-grade inflammation, sometimes called “inflammaging,” is a major driver of age-related conditions. By avoiding this, her body may have been shielded from many typical diseases of old age.
Rare protective genes
Genetic analysis revealed that Branyas carried uncommon gene variants that likely protected her against cardiovascular disease and cancer, two of the leading causes of death worldwide. These rare genetic factors may have been crucial in enabling her body to function well for more than a century, despite natural cellular wear and tear.
A youthful gut microbiome
One of the most striking discoveries came from her gut. The bacterial community in Branyas’s intestines resembled that of someone much younger. She harbored significant levels of Bifidobacterium, a beneficial bacterium known for supporting gut health, immune balance, and metabolic stability. This bacterium typically declines sharply with age, yet her body maintained it at levels more commonly seen in younger individuals.
The presence of such bacteria may have helped reduce systemic inflammation, support nutrient absorption, and strengthen her resilience against infections—factors that are especially important for survival at extreme ages.
Biological age vs. chronological age
When researchers measured her “epigenetic age”—a biological clock based on chemical markers on DNA—they found she was decades younger biologically than her actual 117 years. This suggested that her body had aged much more slowly than expected, providing further evidence that extreme longevity is linked to delayed biological decline rather than simply surviving longer in poor health.
What it means for the rest of us
While the findings are fascinating, researchers caution against drawing broad conclusions from a single case study. Still, Branyas’s biology highlights key pathways for future research. Insights into protective genes, inflammation control, and microbiome health may inspire new therapies, dietary interventions, and personalized probiotics designed to slow age-related decline.
Ultimately, the study underscores that extreme longevity is not only possible but can also be accompanied by robust health. For most people, while reaching 110 may remain elusive, strategies that preserve gut health, reduce inflammation, and support genetic stability could help extend both lifespan and healthspan.
Tune your internet dial to NaturalMedicine.news for more tips on how to use natural remedies and probiotics to fuel longevity instead of thinking old age means decrepit living with no quality.
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