The Surprising Discovery That Might Have Helped This Woman Live to 117

Scientists may have found an important clue as to how a recently deceased woman named Maria Branyas Morera lived to the age of 117. Among other things, Branyas appeared to possess a particularly unusual gut microbiome. Scientists at the University of Barcelona led a study examining Branyas’ longevity, the results of which were reported earlier this month by the Spanish media outlet Ara. According to the researchers, Branyas had a microbiome that closely resembled the kind typically found in an infant. These microbial passengers, in addition to her lucky genetics and healthy lifestyle choices, may have enabled Branyas to live a long and mostly healthy life, the scientists say. Branyas was born in the U.S. in 1907, though her family soon afterward moved back home to Catalonia, Spain. She was a nurse throughout her life, often working alongside her physician husband Joan Moret until his death in 1976. In 2000, she moved to a retirement home in Northern Catalonia, albeit with plenty more ... Read full article.