Overview

• A peer-reviewed multiomics paper in Cell Reports Medicine integrates genomic, epigenomic, proteomic, metabolomic, immune and microbiome data from samples collected before Maria Branyas Morera’s death at 117.
• Analyses identified rare protective genetic variants, efficient lipid metabolism, a low‑inflammatory gut microbiome rich in Bifidobacterium, and a DNA‑methylation age far younger than her chronological age.
• The lead author attributed Branyas’s remarkable health span roughly half to genetics and half to lifestyle, including a Mediterranean diet, regular walking, no tobacco or alcohol, and frequent yogurt consumption.
• Findings illustrate that hallmarks of molecular aging can coexist with a low disease burden, suggesting that extreme age and poor health can be decoupled.
• Authors and outside experts cautioned that conclusions from a single person are not generalizable and said the results should guide replication studies and the search for biomarkers and drug targets to extend healthy lifespan.