World’s oldest person’s DNA study reveals secrets to healthy longevity

Scientists have recently unlocked the secrets of healthy longevity after conducting genetic studies on the world's oldest person, Maria Branyas Morera.

Maria Branyas was considered the oldest person when she died in August 2024 at the age of 117-in Spain.

Doctors in Spain conducted a series of genomic tests on the supercentenarian. Upon running the tests, they found that her biological age may have been younger, protecting her from the final years of life’s malaises despite her aging body.

Dr Manel Esteller at the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute in Barcelona said, “The common rule is that as we age we become sicker, but she was an exception and we wanted to understand why. For the first time, we’ve been able to separate being old from being sick.”

At the age of 116, Spanish doctors took the samples of Maria’s saliva, urine, blood, and stood to fully examine her genetics and microbiome, aiming to reveal the secrets of a healthy long life.

As the result of conducting a DNA study, doctors found that telomeres on the ends of Maria’s chromosomes were exceptionally short in size, demonstrating the aging in her cells.

Her immune system was also found susceptible to inflammation and she developed leukaemia after acquiring mutations in her genes.

Despite these issues, Maria’s shortened telomeres protected her from cancer by limiting the division of cells.

However, gene variants protected her brain and heart from dementia and various diseases.

With low levels of inflammation, her body was saved from diabetes and experienced efficient cholesterol and fat metabolism.

“These are all critical because they’re linked to diseases that are typical in older people and they kill you at the end,” Esteller said.

According to the findings published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine, the study offers “a fresh look at human ageing biology, suggesting biomarkers for healthy ageing, and potential strategies to increase life expectancy.”