Scientists study a 116-year-old San Francisco-born grandma, the oldest woman in the world, to learn her secrets and develop cures for diseases
Scientists study a 116-year-old San Francisco-born woman to discover her secrets to longevity and develop cures for disease.
Centenarian Maria Branyas is the oldest person in the world and has no health problems other than hearing and mobility problems.
The “super-grandmother,” who regularly updates her followers on
She advises anyone hoping for a long life to stay away from “toxic people” and avoid “excesses.”
Maria Branyas, the daughter of a journalist from Pamplona, Spain, was born on March 4, 1907 in San Francisco, California, but returned to Spain as a child
Dr. Manel Esteller (right), director of the Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute (IJC-CERCA) and professor of genetics at the University of Barcelona, collected DNA samples, including saliva, urine and blood, from Ms. Branyas, whom he visited in her nursing home in Olot, Girona, northern Spain
Unlike most people her age, she has no cardiovascular or memory problems and can tell stories from her fourth year as if they happened yesterday
When asked about her secret to a long life, she previously tweeted: “Order, calm, good connection with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, lots of positivity and distance from toxic people.”
Unlike most people her age, she has no cardiovascular problems or memory problems and can tell stories from her fourth year as if they happened yesterday.
“She’s incredible,” said Dr. Manel Esteller, director of the Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute (IJC-CERCA) and professor of genetics at the University of Barcelona.
Dr. Esteller took DNA samples, including saliva, urine and blood, from Ms Branyas, whom he visited at her nursing home in Olot, Girona, northern Spain.
He told Spanish newspaper ABC: “She has a completely clear head.” She remembers episodes from when she was just four years old with impressive clarity and she has no cardiovascular disease to blame common in older people. The only thing she has is mobility and hearing issues.”
Dr. Esteller, a world-leading expert in genetics, wants to find out to what extent Ms. Branyas’ genes explain her longevity and how much has to do with her lifestyle.
Ms. Branyas, the daughter of a Pamplona journalist, was born in San Francisco, California, on March 4, 1907, but returned to Spain as a child. She lived in different areas of the Catalonia region and had three children.
The 116-year-old has previously pointed out that her daily consumption of natural yogurt benefits her longevity and that she avoids “excesses.” She adds: “I have always eaten little but everything, and I have never stuck to a diet. “I have not suffered from any illness, nor have I been through an operating room.”
When asked about her secret to a long life, she previously tweeted: “Order, calm, good connection with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, lots of positivity and distance from toxic people.”
However, she admitted that she also believes it’s down to genes and “luck,” which is what Dr. Esteller agrees.
He explained: “It is clear that there is a genetic component because there are several members in her family who are over 90 years old.”
His team will want to find out in the laboratory to what extent their genes protect them from age-related decline.
He added: “It is clear that she is a person with extraordinary resilience… She is a true survivor.”
The study will analyze six billion segments of their DNA, focusing on 200 genes directly related to aging. According to Dr. Esteller compared with those of her middle daughter, who is 79 years old.
She has another daughter who is 90 years old and a son who died in an accident at the age of 77.
The aim of the research is to contribute to the development of drugs that can combat typical age-related diseases.
Dr. Esteller said: “We hope that studying Maria’s cells will give us new clues about how to deal with age-related neurodegenerative or cardiovascular diseases and cancer.”