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

3. Low Inflammation and Gut Health

Chronic inflammation is known to be a major driver of aging and age‑related disease.

Maria’s body showed low levels of inflammatory markers, and her gut microbiome — the complex community of bacteria in the digestive tract — was rich in beneficial microbes such as Bifidobacterium, which are linked to better immune health and reduced inflammation.

Scientists believe that her microbiome, possibly influenced by lifelong diet habits, contributed to protecting her from diseases associated with inflammation, including cardiovascular conditions and metabolic syndromes.

4. Lifestyle: Diet, Activity, and Social Engagement

While her genetics laid a strong foundation, Maria’s lifestyle choices also played a meaningful role.

She followed a Mediterranean‑style diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and fish — foods long associated with good cardiovascular health.

One particularly striking detail was her daily habit of eating plain, sugar‑free yogurt, often several times a day.

Yogurt contains live cultures and beneficial bacteria that can help support a healthy gut microbiome, reduce inflammation, and support digestion — factors increasingly linked to healthy aging.

She also refrained from smoking and alcohol, maintained regular physical activity through walking, and stayed socially connected with family, friends, and caregivers.

She lived a life rich in human connection and mental stimulation — factors that many aging experts believe help protect cognitive health.

Beyond Telomeres: Rethinking Cellular Ageing

One intriguing biological observation was related to telomeres — the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that typically shorten with age.

In most people, very short telomeres are markers of advanced cellular aging and correlate with higher disease risk. Maria’s telomeres were very short, which is expected for someone of her age.

However, scientists hypothesized that certain aspects of her cellular regulation may have limited uncontrolled cell division — a process that, when dysregulated, can lead to cancer.

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