Scientists found low levels of inflammation, the presence of beneficial gut bacteria, protective genetic features, and a "younger" biological age that turned out to be less than her chronological age in the supercentenarian. Spanish woman María Branyas Morera (1907–2024) was the world's oldest verified person for about a year and a half. She held this status from January 17, 2023, until her death on August 19, 2024, living for 117 years and 168 days. She was born on March 4, 1907, in San Francisco (USA) to Spanish immigrant parents and lived in Catalonia from the age of eight. In this region, the life expectancy for women is 86 years, thus Branyas exceeded this average by more than 30 years. **What the Analysis of the 117-Year-Old Woman's Biological Samples Showed** Spanish researchers, whose article was published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine, studied the biological samples collected from Branyas during her lifetime on multiple levels. Their multi-omics analysis included genomics, proteomics, epigenomics, metabolomics, and microbiomics, making this study the most comprehensive biological analysis of a supercentenarian ever conducted. As a result, the scientists discovered not just a uniform slowing of aging processes in Branyas's body, but a much more complex picture. According to the lead author of the study, Manel Esteller, the woman's biological indicators demonstrated "an astonishing duality: the simultaneous presence of signs of deep aging and healthy longevity." For instance, Branyas's extreme old age was indicated by very short telomeres (the end segments of chromosomes), signs of pro-inflammatory activity in the immune system, and the presence of a population of aging B-lymphocytes. At the same time, other indicators appeared unusually favorable. For example, Branyas exhibited genetic features associated with neuro- and cardioprotection, meaning protection against neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, her body showed low levels of inflammatory processes, her gut microbiota was dominated by beneficial bifidobacteria, and her epigenetic biological age was less than her chronological age. **What All This Means** This combination is significant, the scientists explained, as it suggests that achieving exceptional longevity does not necessarily require meticulously avoiding any markers of aging. On the contrary, some individuals may exhibit pronounced signs of aging while still retaining biological traits that protect the body from many of its harmful effects. The researchers caution that it is still too early to directly link specific biological characteristics with particular behaviors or lifestyles. Nevertheless, they highlight several factors worth considering when attempting to explain the phenomenon of María Branyas Morera: healthy eating, a rich and diverse social life, and the absence of harmful habits.
