Maria Branyas Morera, a Spanish pensioner, has defied the odds by reaching the incredible age of 117. This makes her the world’s oldest living person, a title she proudly earned as she celebrated her birthday earlier this week. Born in 1907, Maria has lived through significant historical events, witnessing the dawn of the 20th century, two World Wars, and the rapid advancements of the modern era.
As the world prepares to commemorate women’s achievements on International Women’s Day, the spotlight shines on Maria. Her longevity has captivated scientists worldwide, and they are eager to uncover the secrets behind her exceptional lifespan.
World’s oldest woman celebrated her 117th birthday with family and friends
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On Monday, March 4, Maria, who has since 2000 lived in a nursing home in Catalonia, took to X to share a post about her gratitude for being alive at such an old age. “Good morning, world. Today I turn 117 years old. I have come this far,” she wrote. “Old age is a kind of sacrament. You lose hearing, but you feel more because you listen to life, not noises … In the light of death, life takes on a specific, more definitive weight.”
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The care home where she lives celebrated with her by dedicating a tribute to her on social media. “She is very grateful for the congratulations received and the interest that so many people have shown in her state of health,” they wrote in the caption. “She is happy to be able to celebrate this special day with her family and colleagues in privacy and wishes everyone a happy Monday.”
Maria Branyas Morera is collaborating with scientists to discover the secrets to her long life
In an interview with ABC, Manel Esteller, one of the scientists interested in unlocking valuable insights into longevity, expressed astonishment at Maria’s exceptional state of health, hypothesizing that her remarkable condition may be attributed to genetic factors. “She has a completely lucid head. She remembers with impressive clarity events from when she was only four years old, and she does not present any cardiovascular disease, common in elderly people,” he told the news outlet.‘It is clear that there is a genetic component because there are several members of her family who are over 90 years old.”
The 117-year-old also gave her consent to participate in scientific testing aimed at unraveling the mysteries behind her remarkable longevity. As part of the study, samples of her saliva, blood, and urine have been collected for analysis. These samples will be meticulously compared with those taken from her 80-year-old daughter.