Study of 117-Year-Old Reveals Paradox of Simultaneous Aging and Biological Protection
Researchers at the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute published a comprehensive multi-omic analysis of Maria Branyas, the longest-lived person in recorded history. The study reveals that extreme longevity involves a biological duality: signs of advanced aging coexist with strong protective mechanisms. While Branyas exhibited aged immune cells and short telomeres, she also possessed low inflammation, beneficial gut bacteria, and a biological age younger than her chronological age. This unique profile, free from major diseases, offers a new reference point for understanding aging as a treatable process rather than just a precursor to illness.