At 117 years old, María Branyas was officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest living person — and researchers say her remarkable longevity wasn’t just a matter of luck.
Branyas credited her long life to “order, tranquility, strong connections with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, no worries, no regrets, lots of positivity, and avoiding toxic people,” according to a statement to Guinness.
Born in San Francisco, California, Branyas moved to Spain as a child, where she spent most of her life. Before her passing on August 19, 2024, scientists at the Josep Carreras Institute in Barcelona studied her genes to better understand the factors behind her extraordinary lifespan.
Led by Dr. Manel Esteller, head of the Cancer Epigenetics group at the Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, the team used non-invasive techniques to analyze three types of tissue. Their comprehensive study included her genome (DNA), epigenome (DNA methylation), transcriptome (gene expression at the RNA level), proteome (gene expression at the protein level), and metabolism (small molecules like cholesterol and sugar).
While signs of aging were present, the researchers found that Branyas also possessed “genetic traits linked to neuroprotection and cardioprotection,” along with low levels of inflammation — factors that may have contributed to her extraordinary lifespan.
At 117, María Branyas was officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest living person — and scientists say her longevity wasn’t simply a matter of luck.
“Branyas had an exceptional genome, enriched with variants in genes linked to longer lifespans in other species, such as dogs, worms, and flies, as well as genes that support heart health and cognitive retention,” Dr. Manel Esteller told Fox News Digital.
“She also lacked gene variants associated with diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, and metabolic disorders,” he added.
Researchers noted that Branyas’ gut microbiome was unusually rich in the beneficial bacteria Bifidobacterium, which they attributed to her frequent yogurt consumption.
Born in San Francisco, California, María Branyas moved to Spain as a child, where she spent most of her life.
Her gut microbiome was notably rich in Bifidobacterium, a beneficial bacterium that boosts the immune system, balances inflammation, regulates metabolism, and helps digest certain carbohydrates and dietary fibers.
“We explained to her that her yogurt consumption and the composition of bacteria in her gut could be linked to her long lifespan,” Dr. Esteller said.
Her lipid profile was equally remarkable: very low cholesterol, low LDL (the “bad” fat), and high HDL (the “good” fat). “This was related to her frugal diet and genes that efficiently metabolized harmful molecules,” he added.
Branyas also never smoked or drank alcohol. Researchers found that her biological age, based on epigenetic markers, was actually younger than her chronological age — a possible clue to her extraordinary longevity.
Before her death on August 19, 2024, scientists in Barcelona, Spain, studied María Branyas’ genes to uncover the secrets behind her extraordinary longevity. The study, published in Cell Reports Medicine, was described by Dr. Manel Esteller as the most thorough investigation into the biology of supercentenarians — people over 110 years old.
Esteller praised Branyas as “an exceptional person, with a smile that lit up the room and an optimism we deeply need,” and noted that she was eager to help others by participating in the study.
According to Guinness World Records, Branyas had no major health issues aside from some hearing loss and limited mobility, and her mind remained “perfectly lucid.” Researchers emphasized that her ability to live to 117 without serious disease demonstrates that aging can be “clearly distinguished from illness.”
The team concluded that Branyas’ remarkable lifespan was likely influenced by a combination of factors, including a healthy diet, a stimulating and diverse social network, and the absence of toxic habits. Branyas herself added, “I think longevity is also about being lucky. Luck and good genetics.”
Six Factors Behind Her Longevity
According to the study, these six key factors likely contributed to Branyas’ healthy aging:
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Protective and resilient genome – her genes contained variants associated with longevity and reduced risk of major diseases.
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Efficient metabolism – her body quickly processed harmful fats and sugars.
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Low inflammation – her system showed minimal chronic inflammation.
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Strong immune system – capable of fighting pathogens without attacking healthy cells, reducing risk of autoimmune disorders.
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Beneficial gut microbiome – her microbiome resembled that of a much younger person, containing several anti-inflammatory bacterial strains.
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Younger biological age – epigenetic markers indicated her biological age was approximately 23 years younger than her chronological age.
According to Guinness World Records, Branyas had no major health issues aside from some hearing loss and limited mobility, and her mind remained “perfectly lucid.”
Dr. Esteller emphasized that the study’s biggest takeaway was its identification of markers associated with healthy aging and the potential for remarkable longevity.
“For example, her very short telomeres showed that her cells had divided many times, yet this did not affect her well-being,” he explained. “Her rejuvenated microbiome and epigenome provided an extra boost for her extreme lifespan.”
The research also suggests that dietary changes could not only help prevent obesity and related diseases but may also extend lifespan by improving gut health.
“Finally, identifying genes linked to the supercentenarian trait could offer new targets for drug development, potentially paving the way for ‘intelligent’ therapies that increase healthy lifespan,” Esteller added.
Branyas herself told Guinness, “I think longevity is also about being lucky. Luck and good genetics.”
The researchers noted some limitations of the study, emphasizing that aging is a “highly individualized process” influenced by numerous genetic and environmental factors.
“Drawing broadly applicable conclusions from a single subject should be done with caution,” they wrote, highlighting the need for more detailed studies on the hallmarks of aging.
They also acknowledged that their research did not examine the effects of exercise or metabolic interventions, nor did it test drugs targeting the observed features to explore potential anti-aging benefits.
