Seeing a red number on a lab report can be alarming, and Maria Branyas Morera had her fair share of those. Her LDL cholesterol was above the cutoff, and her blood showed genetic wear and tear often linked to disease and aging. Yet she became the world’s verified oldest woman, dying peacefully in her sleep in August 2024 at the age of 117 — without ever developing cancer, cardiovascular disease, or dementia. Her case offers one of the most comprehensive biological portraits of a super-centenarian ever recorded. Researchers went far beyond a cholesterol test. When Morera was 116 years and 74 days of age, they conducted a “multiomic” sweep — analyzing her blood, saliva, stool, and urine — to scan her genes, proteins, metabolites, and microbes for clues to her longevity, and discovered Morera’s lab results revealed hidden strength. Her mitochondria — the body’s power plants — produced energy efficiently, like those of someone decades younger. From the information gathered, here’s a look at what helped Morera live to be 117.
- Movement: She stayed active into her later years, playing music and keeping a daily rhythm.
- Sleep: She slept soundly, a habit associated with longevity.
- Diet: Her meals leaned toward the Mediterranean diet, with olive oil, yogurt, eggs, and fish, all foods that nourish the gut microbiome.
- Connection: She was surrounded by family and had strong social ties.
- Faith: She had a strong faith, which gave her life meaning and purpose.
- Optimism: Her outlook remained hopeful, a trait linked to added years of life. Studies suggest optimism lowers stress hormones and inflammation, helping the body recover more easily from illness.
Morera’s 117 years revealed no magic key to immortality. What they did reveal was a reminder: health isn’t about perfect numbers.
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| At age 18 |
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| At age 63 |
