Recent research indicates that the composition of the gut microbiome could serve as a predictor of successful aging processes. Insights from the world’s former oldest living individual are providing researchers with fresh perspectives on the mechanisms behind healthy aging and defense against the chronic conditions that commonly afflict people in their later years.
Projections from recent analyses point to a dramatic increase in the global population of individuals aged 65 and above, expected to more than double over the coming three decades and reach approximately 1.5 billion people worldwide. Accumulating scientific evidence highlights how the gut microbiome undergoes significant transformations as people age, with a notable reduction in microbial diversity often associated with increased frailty during advanced years. Nevertheless, the precise reasons why certain individuals attain exceptional longevity remain largely elusive to current understanding.
In a groundbreaking investigation published recently, an international consortium of researchers, spearheaded by the Cancer Epigenetics team at the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute located in Barcelona, uncovered vital indicators of prolonged and healthier living through an in-depth examination of Maria Branyas Morera. She held the distinction of being the world’s oldest person until her passing last year at the remarkable age of 117.
Born in San Francisco in 1907, Branyas relocated to Catalonia in 1915 and remarkably recovered from a COVID-19 infection at the age of 113. Just one year prior to her death, while residing in the quaint town of Olot within Spain’s Catalonia region, she welcomed scientists to perform an exhaustive analysis of her distinctive genetics, metabolic functions, and gut microbiome. The objective was to unravel the factors that enabled her to maintain robust health throughout her extensive lifespan.
The research team executed what is considered the most comprehensive multi-omics evaluation to date, gathering samples of saliva, blood, urine, and stool. This sophisticated multi-omics methodology facilitates a granular exploration of an individual’s cellular and molecular profiles. Subsequently, they benchmarked Branyas’ genetic material, blood characteristics, and gut microbiome against those of other women from the same geographic area. This comparative approach effectively isolates age-related alterations from those stemming from compromised health states.
The analysis revealed that, despite evident markers of biological aging in her body, several key physiological elements shielded her from the typical maladies that beset older adults. Notably, the protective chromosomal end-caps known as telomeres in Branyas were found to be unusually short. This characteristic likely conferred protection against cancer by restricting the proliferative capacity of her cells.
Furthermore, scrutiny of her DNA uncovered specific genetic variants that safeguarded her against cardiovascular ailments and dementia. Branyas exhibited elevated concentrations of beneficial high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, alongside reduced levels of detrimental low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and systemic inflammation. These factors collectively diminished her susceptibility to prevalent chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and myocardial infarction. Examination of gene expression patterns-those genes activated or deactivated-indicated that her biological age was substantially younger than her calendar age.
Investigators hypothesized that Branyas’ minimal inflammatory profile might be attributable to the youthful profile of her gut microbiome. Remarkably, her intestinal flora featured exceptionally elevated abundances of Bifidobacterium. This beneficial microbe, recognized for its health-boosting properties, tends to diminish with advancing age. It plays crucial roles in combating inflammation, fortifying the intestinal barrier, and metabolizing dietary fibers to generate short-chain fatty acids. These metabolites contribute to sustaining immune function, metabolic equilibrium, and a lower gut pH environment, thereby suppressing pathogenic bacteria.
A compelling explanation for her abundant Bifidobacterium levels lies in her longstanding habit of consuming three servings of yogurt daily during the final two decades of her life. Researchers posit that this dietary practice significantly bolstered her microbial composition, potentially fostering her extended period of vitality and wellness, as elaborated in their study findings.
Although Branyas inherited a favorable genetic foundation from her parents, her personal choices and habits played a pivotal role in her extraordinary longevity. She maintained a healthy body weight, adhered to a Mediterranean-style diet rich in plant-derived foods that supply essential prebiotic fibers and polyphenols to nurture beneficial gut microbes. Additionally, she abstained from smoking and alcohol consumption, engaged in consistent physical activity, pursued intellectual stimulation through reading, and cultivated strong social connections with family and friends.
Scientific consensus is increasingly recognizing the intricate interplay between the gut microbiome and various bodily systems-including the brain, immune apparatus, cardiovascular network, and digestive system. This symbiosis appears to mitigate age-associated declines and facilitate exceptional lifespan extension. For example, prior research has demonstrated that semi-supercentenarians-individuals aged 105 to 109 years-possess gut microbiomes enriched with salutary bacteria such as Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, and members of the Christensenellaceae family. These microbial communities are believed to play instrumental roles in achieving extreme old age.
Collectively, these discoveries underscore that advanced age does not inevitably equate to poor health or debility. While genetic inheritance is beyond our control and no universal formula guarantees super-longevity, this research illuminates numerous actionable strategies for optimizing the aging process. Central to these are lifestyle modifications and dietary patterns, which emerge as cornerstone elements in the quest for sustained vitality.
Admittedly, the study’s conclusions draw from observations of a solitary individual, a necessity given the rarity of people surpassing 110 years. Nonetheless, these insights provide profound understanding of both hereditary and modifiable factors that underpin prolonged human lifespan.
By emulating such patterns, individuals may enhance their prospects for aging gracefully, leveraging the power of the gut microbiome as a modifiable ally in the journey toward a longer, healthier life.
Santos-Pujol E, Noguera-Castells A, Casado-Pelaez M, et al. The multiomics blueprint of the individual with the most extreme lifespan. Cell Rep Med. 2025; 6(10):102368. doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.102368.
Kadyan S, Park G, Singh TP, et al. Microbiome-based therapeutics towards healthier aging and longevity. Genome Med. 2025; 17(1):75. doi: 10.1186/s13073-025-01493-x.
