“117 Years, Yogurt & Youth Genes: How One Woman’s Simple Habit Opened the Door to a Longer Life”

Many of us hope to live longer, healthier lives, and science may have found an amazing hint.

Researchers are one step closer to knowing how humans might live well past 100—and perhaps how we can age more gracefully along the way—thanks to the DNA of one remarkable woman.

A century-long existence
Born in San Francisco in 1907, María Branyas Morera lived an incredible 117 years until her death in 2024.

Publication Smithsonian+3IFLScience+3The Guardian+3 Her life encompassed two global conflicts, twenty-one American presidents, and a century of profound transformation, from horse-drawn carriages to cellphones.

Tragic events occurred when her family relocated to Catalonia, Spain, in 1915; her father passed away from TB while traveling there.

Maybe her story would have been completely different if she hadn’t experienced that loss. Nevertheless, Maria persisted, eventually starting her own family and spending the remainder of her extraordinary and lengthy life in Spain.EL PAÍS English+1

However, what caused her lifespan to be exceptional in terms of both years and health?

Unlocking longevity’s DNA
Maria’s tissues were examined by researchers from the Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute and the University of Barcelona, who compared her chronological age with her biological age.

Her cells appeared 10–30 years younger than her true age, they discovered.RealClearScience+2 + ScienceAlert+2

“The general rule is that we get sicker as we get older,” said lead scientist Manel Esteller. Maria, however, was an exception.

The Guardian+1 Her inflammatory indicators were low, and her cholesterol values were almost perfect: very low in “bad” LDL and triglycerides, but high in protective HDL cholesterol.Atlas+1 has been updated.

Even more astonishing was the fact that her gut microbiome was full of healthy bacteria that are usually found in youngsters, much like that of a much younger individual.The Guardian+2The Independent + 2

What else caught your attention? Although her telomeres were abnormally short, which often indicates aging, they did not correlate with any disease,

indicating that longevity may depend more on the body’s ability to maintain cellular balance and repair than on “how long telomeres are.”Atlas+1 has been updated.

In summary, María’s biology provided hints about what it would actually look like to age gracefully while also defying many of the typical patterns of aging.

The routine behavior that scientists were shocked by
One of the most widely discussed discoveries had less to do with DNA and more to do with dinner.

Every day, María consumed three portions of yogurt, which was naturally of Catalan origin. Probiotics that support Bifidobacterium and other “young-gut” bacteria are thought to have contributed to her youthful gut microbiome, according to researchers.Mewburn +

That yogurt habit? It might have been a minor but significant piece of the puzzle of her lifespan. Probiotics, such as those in yogurt, have been shown by scientists to improve cellular health, strengthen the immune system, and lessen inflammation.UNILAD+1

Overall, she followed a straightforward and regular diet consisting of moderate meals, cereal or smoothies, fresh fruit, and yogurt in the morning.

She continued to be socially active, never smoked, and drank little alcohol.NMN.com+1 “Quality, order, and positive relationships with family and friends… She claimed to have emotional stability, a connection to nature, and no regrets or fears.IFLScience+1

To put it another way, her lifestyle helped her finish, even though her genes provided her an advantage.

The findings of the science
María’s multi-omic analysis is one of the most thorough ever conducted on a super-centenarian. Her microbiome, epigenome, proteome, metabolome, and genome all demonstrated resiliency.Techno-Science.net+1

The following are some of the main biological conclusions:

Rare protective gene variants: María possessed genetic variants associated with mitochondrial health, heart and brain protection, and robust immunological function.NMN.com+1

Low inflammation and optimal lipids: For someone her age, her inflammatory markers and lipid profile were among the best ever noted.Atlas New

Youthful microbiome: Given the connections between gut health and systemic inflammation, lifespan, and cognition, it is noteworthy that her gut flora resembled those of considerably younger people.The Independent+1

Decelerated epigenetic age: Several tests revealed that her epigenetic “age,” or how old her cells looked, was about 10–30 years younger than her true age.ScienceAlert

To put it briefly, chronological age ≠ biological age. Additionally, our lifestyle can either strengthen or weaken the impact of our genes.

Good genes alone are not enough.
Naturally, María consistently credited “luck and good genetics” for a large portion of her longevity.

The Guardian+1 However, she also highlighted social and emotional behaviors, such as avoiding toxic people, remaining upbeat, and preserving ties to nature and family.1Family games on NMN.com

Her life experience demonstrates that longevity is more about the quality of those years than it is about the number of years gained. Until very late in life, she remained cognitively alert and free of serious illnesses like dementia or cancer.Atlas+1 has been updated.

Extreme lifespan, according to researchers, is probably the result of a protective lifestyle combined with advantageous genes. Most of us have no control over our genes, but we do have control over our habits.EL PAÍS English

What are we able to learn?
The following are some useful insights gleaned from studying María’s biology and her life:

Gut health is important. Yogurt and fermented foods may help maintain a healthy gut microbiome full of good bacteria, which may promote longevity.

Low inflammation and healthy lipids: It’s important to control inflammation and “bad” cholesterol through exercise, nutrition, and stress management.

Be mindful of your relationships and mindset: María’s formula included avoiding toxic influences, social connectivity, emotional stability, and low stress levels.

Stillness and movement: Engaging in life, spending time in nature, and engaging in regular, moderate activity can all help promote good aging.

Favorable genetics may lay the groundwork, but lifestyle decisions help construct the house. Genes aid, but habits drive.

Even though it’s obviously uncommon to live to 117, we may all adopt the mentality that it’s possible to add healthy years rather than just years.

Concluding thoughts
The story of María Branyas Morera is not just about a woman who lived longer than most people; it’s also about her lifestyle.

Throughout the centuries of her existence, she maintained her curiosity, sense of reality, compassion, and simplicity.

Researchers will keep going through her data in an effort to find cures or remedies for illnesses linked to aging.

Science Live+1 However, despite all the labs and gene-sequencers, her daily routines—a yogurt in the morning, a nature walk, thankfulness, family, and letting go of negativity—may offer the most accessible insights.

In a society that is fixated on youth, María’s legacy teaches us something more profound: living a long life means having better days rather than just more.

Therefore, keep in mind that you’re not just adding minutes the next time you go for that yogurt, accept an invitation to go for a walk outside, or decide to connect rather than isolate yourself. Perhaps you are adding significance.