Doctors analyze the DNA of a 117-year-old to discover one food that may help people live longer.

Their findings, published in Cell Reports Medicine, were both remarkable and deeply instructive.

The lead scientist involved, Dr. Manel Esteller, emphasized that Branyas’s life challenged assumptions about aging. Traditionally, extreme age is equated with frailty, chronic illness, and cognitive decline.

But Maria’s biology suggested something different: it showed that advanced age and serious disease are not intrinsically linked in all cases.

The Science of Maria’s Longevity

The research into Maria Branyas Morera’s biology did not point to a single “silver bullet” for long life — but rather to a complex interplay of genetics, metabolic health, immune resilience, and lifestyle. Here’s what scientists discovered:

1. Exceptional Genetic Profile

Maria’s DNA contained rare genetic variants that are associated with enhanced health and longevity.

These variants appeared to protect her cardiovascular system, cognitive function, and immune response — factors that often deteriorate in advanced age.

Her genome was enriched with gene profiles that research has also found linked to long life in other species, including worms and flies.

Remarkably, she also lacked many genetic variants typically associated with common age‑related diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, and metabolic disorders.