117-year-old woman's cells shocked scientists: Biologically much younger
Scientists analyzed the biological markers of María Branyas Morera, the world's oldest person, following her death at 117. The study revealed that while her cells showed signs of extreme age, her epigenetic clocks indicated a biological age significantly younger than her chronological age.
Why it matters
Understanding the discrepancy between chronological and biological age in supercentenarians could unlock new insights into longevity and age-related disease prevention.
When María Branyas Morera turned 117, there was more than a birthday cake marking the occasion. Scientists were also looking closely at what was happening inside her body.Branyas, who became the world’s oldest verified living person in January 2023, had spent more than a century experiencing events that reshaped modern history. Born in San Francisco in 1907 to Spanish parents, she later moved to Catalonia, where she lived for most of her life. She survived two world wars, the Spanish Civil War and Covid-19, which she contracted at the age of 113.Before her death on August 19, 2024, at 117 years and 168 days, Branyas agreed to become an unusually detailed scientific case study.
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