This is the woman who lived 117 years: what does DNA reveal about the secret of her long life?

A surprising picture was also obtained in the clinical tests. Despite her advanced age, her cardiovascular status was defined as good, the levels of inflammation in her body were extremely low, and the lipid profile in her blood was one commonly associated with a reduced risk of heart disease. She was found to have very low levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, along with high levels of the “bad” HDL cholesterol. Her immune system and digestive system also provided abnormal findings.

The composition of her gut bacteria resembled that of much younger people, and is thought to contribute to reducing inflammation and maintaining cognitive, bone and muscle function. The researchers note that her diet, which was based mainly on a Mediterranean diet and included a high consumption of yogurt, likely contributed to this composition. On the other hand, they emphasize that nutrition alone does not explain the extreme longevity.

One of the most intriguing findings concerned telomeres, the ends of chromosomes that shorten over the years and are considered a biological marker of aging. An especially extensive erosion of the telomeres was found in the elderly woman. Apparently this is a negative finding, but in recent years it has become clear that in people over a hundred years old, telomere length is not always a reliable measure of risk. The researchers raise the possibility that their shortening actually limited the cells’ ability to divide excessively, thus possibly preventing the development of cancerous processes.

Beyond genetics and physiology, we will also examine her lifestyle. She made sure to remain socially, mentally and physically active, maintained close ties with family members and friends, and continued to be involved in her environment even at a very advanced age. These factors have been proven in many studies to be related to maintaining cognitive function and reducing the risk of dementia. However, the researchers emphasize that even a healthy lifestyle is not enough without a supporting genetic component.

The study, published in the scientific journal Cell Reports Medicine, is based on a single case, and the researchers themselves note its limitations. It is not possible to draw direct conclusions from it for the entire population. However, similar findings also emerged in other large-scale studies, which compared centenarians and their peers who died earlier, and found distinct biological differences.

According to the researchers, this case demonstrates that very advanced age does not have to be accompanied by severe health deterioration. According to them, aging and disease are not necessarily the same process, and they can also be separated at the molecular level. The hope is that a better understanding of these mechanisms will help in the future to develop ways to extend not only life expectancy, but especially the healthy years of life.