Scientists Reveal Secrets of 117-Year-Old Woman Who Asked to Be Studied Before Her Death

Maria Branyas Morera, who held the title of the world’s oldest living person until her passing in August 2024, left behind more than just memories. Before her death at age 117, she made a special request: she asked doctors to study her body to uncover the secrets behind her remarkable longevity.

Now, researchers have honored her wish — and their findings may hold important clues about how humans can live longer, healthier lives.

Scientists Fulfill Her Dying Wish

On September 24, 2025, Dr. Manel Esteller, chairman of genetics at the University of Barcelona’s School of Medicine, published groundbreaking research in Cell Reports Medicine. Together with an international team, he analyzed Morera’s blood, saliva, urine, and stool samples to understand what made her one of the longest-living people in history.

The results? A powerful mix of healthy lifestyle habits and extraordinary genetics.

A Life of Healthy Habits

Dr. Esteller explained that Morera lived a disciplined, balanced life for more than a century:

• She never smoked.

• She never drank alcohol.

• She lived in the countryside and enjoyed daily walks.

• She followed a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil and yogurt.

“She liked to work until she couldn’t anymore, she did moderate exercise — about an hour of walking a day — and she ate a simple but healthy diet,” Esteller shared.

Remarkably, Morera ate three yogurts a day, which researchers believe helped fight off chronic inflammation — one of the leading causes of aging and disease.

Winning the Genetic Lottery

Beyond lifestyle, Morera also inherited protective genetic variants that shielded her from many common age-related illnesses, including heart disease, dementia, high cholesterol, and cancer.

“She had cells that seemed younger than her age,” Esteller told The New York Times.

What Experts Say About Aging

While Morera’s story is inspiring, scientists caution against assuming there’s a single formula for extreme longevity. Claire Steves, a professor of aging at King’s College London, emphasized that aging is a complex process influenced by multiple factors.

“Ill-health in age is not inevitable,” Steves explained. “It comes about because of biological mechanisms … it’s something we can change. What we should aim for is not necessarily to live to 117, but to minimize the time we spend unwell. That’s exactly what this lady achieved.”

A Legacy Beyond Science

Born in 1907, Morera lived through two world wars, the Spanish Civil War, and the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2023, Guinness World Records confirmed her as the oldest living person following the death of France’s Lucile Randon at 118.

She was married to a doctor for 40 years, raised three children, and became the grandmother of more than a dozen. For over 20 years, she lived at the Residència Santa María del Tura nursing home in Olot, Spain, where her daughter helped her share posts and reflections on social media.

In one of her most memorable messages, posted in January 2023, Morera wrote:

“Life is not eternal for anyone. At my age, a new year is a gift, a humble celebration, a new adventure, a beautiful journey, a moment of happiness. Let’s enjoy life together.”

On August 20, 2024, her family confirmed that she had passed away peacefully in her sleep.

“Maria Branyas has left us,” her family wrote. “She has died as she wanted: in her sleep, peacefully and without pain. We will always remember her for her advice and kindness.”