Yogurt and genetics: study on 117-year-old Maria Branyas Morera points to probiotic diet as a factor in healthy aging

A team of international researchers studying Maria Branyas Morera, who died last year at 117, has highlighted a combination of diet, biology and life history as potential contributors to her unusually long and healthy life. Branyas Morera, who was born in San Francisco in 1907 and moved to Spain as a child, held the title of world’s oldest person for part of the period before her death, and she maintained a daily routine that included regular probiotic yogurt consumption along with other healthful habits.

In a study conducted by scientists from the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute and the University of Barcelona, researchers examined the woman’s DNA and broader biological profile. They collected a wide range of samples—blood, urine, saliva and stool—about a year before she died and compared Branyas Morera’s data with that of other very old individuals. The team reported that her biological age appeared as much as 15 years younger than her chronological age, marking her as an outlier in aging research. They also noted that protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, known as telomeres, were exceedingly short in her cells, a finding they said could have been linked to a lower cancer risk in this particular context.

A central takeaway from the researchers is the potential role of Branyas Morera’s daily yogurt habit in promoting healthy aging. The study emphasizes probiotic yogurts as a plausible contributing factor to reduced inflammation and better metabolic health, alongside her choice to avoid alcohol and tobacco, maintain a healthy weight, and sustain an active social network. Branyas Morera’s preferred yogurt was a Catalan brand called La Fageda, noted for its probiotic cultures, including Lactobacillus delbrueckii bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. She also drank a smoothie each day made with eight different cereals, and she did not smoke or drink, factors the researchers say likely supported her overall health profile.

Dr. Manel Esteller, the study’s lead investigator, stressed that the work represents a meaningful step in understanding aging biology. The researchers say they were able to separate the biological processes of aging from the onset of disease in this case, a finding they describe as novel. They also cautioned that evidence linking yogurt consumption to longevity remains limited and that this is an initial observation rather than a proven causal rule. Nevertheless, Esteller noted that the data opens new avenues for investigating how diet, gut health and genetics interact to influence aging trajectories. The team suggested that future work could explore whether specific probiotic strains or dietary patterns could reproduce some of the protective effects observed in Branyas Morera.

The international effort also included researchers from the University of Birmingham, who commented on the broader significance of longevity outliers. Professor João Pedro de Magalhães said that studying individuals who live exceptionally long lives can yield insights into aging mechanisms and potential druggable targets for interventions aimed at promoting healthier aging for the wider population. While the Branyas Morera case alone cannot establish causality, experts say it provides a valuable data point in a growing field that seeks to translate rare longevity into practical health strategies.

Branyas Morera’s life story underscores the role of resilience in longevity. She survived two world wars, the Spanish Civil War, the Spanish flu, and the Covid-19 pandemic. She contracted Covid at age 113 but recovered and encouraged doctors to study her case to help others. In addition to her biological and dietary attributes, researchers noted a robust social circle, close family ties, and continued cognitive and physical engagement as factors associated with healthy aging.

While the precise interplay of genes and environment remains complex, scientists emphasize that a combination of favorable genetics, low exposure to harmful substances, and consistent healthy habits appears to contribute to durable health into the high ages. The Branyas Morera study adds to a small but growing body of work that seeks to map how lifestyle choices—such as daily yogurt consumption and other dietary patterns—may influence aging processes, and how this knowledge could inform interventions aimed at extending healthspan for more people.

Ultimately, experts say this case should be interpreted as one data point within a broader aging landscape. Still, it reinforces a practical message: for many people, accessible daily dietary choices—paired with regular social engagement and avoidance of risky behaviors—can be a meaningful part of healthier aging.