Maria Branyas Morera, born in the U.S. in 1907 and later living in Catalonia, Spain, passed away in 2024 at 117, having witnessed two world wars, 21 U.S. presidents, and a century of technological change. Before her death, she asked scientists to study her DNA to understand her extraordinary longevity.<\/p>\n
Researchers from the University of Barcelona and Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute found she biologically appeared 10\u201315 years younger, with low \u201cbad\u201d cholesterol, high \u201cgood\u201d cholesterol, healthy habits, and a love of yogurt. Unique telomere features may have also helped protect her from disease.<\/p>\n
Her longevity stemmed from a mix of genetics and lifestyle. Morera, who became the world\u2019s oldest person in 2023, recovered from COVID-19 at age 112 and advocated for better treatment of the elderly. She credited her long life to family, nature, emotional balance, positivity, and avoiding toxic people.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"