If you’re hoping for a single “live-forever” switch, this isn’t it. Researchers studied Maria Branyas Morera’s biology before she passed at 117 and found a stack of advantages working in parallel—some changeable, some not. Smithsonian Magazine
What stood out
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Protective genetic variants, not just “long-life gene X.” Her genome carried rare variants linked to lower risk of dementia, heart disease, diabetes, and other heavy hitters. Think “fewer landmines,” not invincibility.
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Cells that looked “younger” than her age. Biomarkers hinted her biology lagged behind the calendar. That likely helped her stay functional into extreme old age.
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A surprisingly youthful gut. Her microbiome was rich in Bifidobacterium, the kind of bacteria often reinforced by fermented foods. She reportedly ate yogurt three times a day—one plausible reason her inflammation stayed low.
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Boring, effective habits. No smoking, no heavy drinking, regular movement, and social engagement. It’s not sexy, but it stacks the odds.
What this does not prove
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Yogurt ≠ ticket to 117. A single-case study can’t set universal rules. Scientists quoted in the piece warn against overgeneralizing—genetics and socioeconomic factors still matter.
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Good genes don’t erase context. Even “protective” DNA won’t fix everything if life circumstances undercut health.
Why it matters
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Research direction: If we understand how protective variants and a low-inflammation microbiome buffer aging, we might design treatments that mimic those effects—even if we didn’t win the genetic lottery. That’s the long game scientists point to.
What you can actually do this week
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Pick one fermented food you’ll eat most days (yogurt, kefir, kimchi). Don’t overthink it—consistency beats novelty. (This aligns with the microbiome angle but isn’t a guarantee.)
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Move daily, gently. Walking + two short strength sessions per week. Aging immune systems like steady input, not weekend heroics.
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Guard sleep and company. In older adults, poor sleep and isolation drive inflammation—the enemy of healthy aging. Social routines count.
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Keep your numbers in range. Boring preventive care (BP, A1c, LDL) buys you years of function.
One more wrinkle
Maria wasn’t the absolute record holder—that’s Jeanne Calment at 122—but Maria’s case is unusually well-documented at 117, which is why it’s useful to scientists. Different outliers, different lessons; the pattern is multifactor. Smithsonian Magazine+1
Bottom line: Longevity looks like probability management, not destiny—layer small, protective choices on top of whatever genetics you’ve got. If future drugs can copy some of Maria’s built-in protections, great. Until then, eat like an adult, move daily, sleep, and keep your people close.
Source: Smithsonian Magazine coverage of the 117-year case study.
