Among other things, Branyas appeared to possess a particularly unusual gut microbiome.
According to the researchers, Branyas had a microbiome that closely resembled the kind typically found in an infant.
Will the Average Human Life Expectancy Ever Reach 100?
Maria Branyas Morera celebrating her 117th birthday.© Branyas Morera family archive via Wikimedia Commons.
She was a nurse throughout her life, often working alongside herphysician husband Joan Moretuntil his death in 1976.
In 2000, shemovedto a retirement home in Northern Catalonia, albeit with plenty more years left to go.
The team has since found several things that likely accounted for Branyas long life.
For instance, Branyas seemed to possess exceptional genetics that slowed down the age-related progression of her bodys cells.
The researchers estimated that her cellular age may have been 17 years younger than her actual age.
According to Estellers team, Branyas microbiome had a similar composition to microbiomes found in infants.
But last August, Branyas finallypassed awayat the age of 117peacefully in her sleep, according to her family.
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