In a world that often seems to be moving faster and faster, <keyword id="22852026" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maria-Branyas-Morera" source="keywords">Maria Branyas Morera</keyword> was a quiet testament to the art of living slowly and meaningfully. Born on March 4, 1907, in San Francisco, California, Maria’s life was a mosaic of history, resilience, and quiet wisdom. This week, the curtains finally closed on her remarkable life as she peacefully passed away in her sleep on August 19, at the age of 117, in Olot, Spain. <br /><br />Maria’s story reads like a novel that spans more than a century. She survived two World Wars, the Spanish Civil War, and even COVID-19, just weeks after her 113th birthday. Yet, she never saw herself as a hero, once telling a Spanish newspaper, "I haven't done anything extraordinary; the only thing I did was live." And live she did, in the most extraordinary fashion.<br /><br />Her final days were marked by a profound sense of peace and acceptance. In a poignant post translated by her family on X (formerly known as Twitter), Maria hinted at the close of her journey, saying, "One day I will leave here. I will not try coffee again, nor eat yogurt, nor pet my dog. I will also leave my memories, my reflections and I will cease to exist in this body. One day I don't know, but it's very close, this long journey will be over."<br /><div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112689842" title="The world&amp;#39;s oldest person just died at 117 with a clean bill of health. Here are her 5 longevity tips." mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>It’s no wonder that her passing leaves a void not only in her family but also among the countless people who admired her from afar. The nursing home where she spent her final 20 years described her as an "endearing woman" who taught them "the value of life and the wisdom of the years." <br /><br />As the world mourns Maria, the title of the world’s <keyword id="22856019" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="oldest-person" source="keywords">oldest person</keyword> now passes to <keyword id="22864681" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tomiko-Itooka" source="keywords">Tomiko Itooka</keyword> of <keyword id="19904740" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Japan" source="keywords">Japan</keyword>, who was born on May 23, 1908. At 116 years old, Tomiko carries the torch of <keyword id="20186177" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="longevity" source="keywords">longevity</keyword> into the future, her life now under the curious eyes of a world fascinated by those who manage to stretch the human lifespan to its limits.<br /><h2>India’s living saint: <keyword id="20353301" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swami-Sivananda" source="keywords">Swami Sivananda</keyword></h2>Closer to home, India has its own beacon of longevity in Swami Sivananda, who has claimed to be born on August 8, 1896, and is now 127 years old.<br /><br />Swami Sivananda, who lives in Varanasi, has become a global symbol of health and spiritual well-being, drawing attention not only for his age but also for his incredible vitality. He has attributed his long life to a simple and disciplined lifestyle, which includes regular yoga, a strict vegetarian diet, and, perhaps most importantly, an unshakable inner peace.<br /><div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111363687" title="I was nervous when my teenagers started dating. I learned to set simple expectations and allow room for mistakes." mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>As we reflect on the lives of these remarkable individuals, we are reminded that the true measure of a long life isn’t just the years accumulated, but the grace, wisdom, and humility with which those years are lived. Maria Branyas Morera may no longer be with us, but her legacy — much like that of Swami Sivananda — will undoubtedly inspire generations to come.<br />

World’s oldest person Maria Branyas Morera passes away at 117; Japan’s 116-year-old Tomiko Itooka now oldest

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Maria Branyas Morera was the world's oldest person when she died at the age of 117.</li><li>She attributed her longevity to her genes and luck, but also some lifestyle factors.</li></ul><p>The world's oldest person has died at the age of 117 with a clean bill of health. Maria Branyas Morera's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/precision-medicine-doctor-longevity-tips-live-longer-2024-3">tips for longevity</a> included avoiding toxic people while having strong family ties.</p><p>Branyas, who lived in the Spanish city of Olot, was healthy apart from experiencing hearing loss and some mobility issues, and had a sharp memory even in her later years, Spanish news site ABC <a target="_blank" href="https://www.abc.es/sociedad/ciencia-busca-genes-maria-116-anos-secreto-20231022010809-nt.html?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.es%2Fsociedad%2Fciencia-busca-genes-maria-116-anos-secreto-20231022010809-nt.html">reported</a><strong> </strong>in 2023.</p><p>Despite her age, she was active on X, and <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/MariaBranyas112/status/1601512822563041280">posted</a> in December 2022 that she thought how long a person lived was down to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longevity-lifestyle-changes-live-longer-healthy-habits-genes-study-2024-5">luck and genetics</a>.</p><p>She had a point — some people are <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lifestyle-choices-live-100-lifespan-expert-longevity-2024-5">genetically predisposed to a longer life</a>. But lifestyle factors can also impact how long people live.</p><p>Thanks to a greater awareness of healthy behaviors, as well as medical advances and public health initiatives, more people are surviving past 65, according to a 2020 report by the US Census Bureau. The Pew Research Center estimates that the number of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tips-for-living-to-100-from-centenarians-worlds-oldest-people-2024">centenarians</a> in the US will triple in the next 30 years.</p><p>Here are some of the factors Branyas thought helped her reach triple figures.</p><h2 id="a46f932a-05e5-4e43-ac05-10140d2a4470">Avoiding toxic people</h2><p>Branyas said that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/worlds-oldest-woman-cut-out-toxic-people-for-long-life-2023-1">staying "away from toxic people</a>" helped her live so long, Business Insider previously reported.</p><p>She may be correct — one 2020 study published in Health Psychology found that people who were <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/being-in-a-controlling-relationship-can-affect-your-health-lifespan-2020-6">criticized by their partner had a higher chance of dying</a> early, especially older adults.</p><div type="image" title="Fabrizio Villatoro with María Branyas Morera, the world's oldest person" height="1000" width="1500" msid="112689105" hostid="261" sizebytes="73696"></div><h2 id="f90a0c8c-b5ff-4154-ae26-5f8bb3c2899f">Having 'strong' family ties</h2><p>"Strong, rich, and caring family ties act as a mattress that cushions loneliness," Branyas posted on X earlier this year, adding that she was "lucky" in this regard.</p><p>Having contact with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/visit-family-friends-social-interaction-help-live-longer-study-2023-11">loved ones is linked to living longer</a>, according to a 2023 study. It found that older people who were socially isolated from living alone, not having family and friends visit often, or not doing group activities, were up to 77% more likely to die early.</p><h2 id="ca4e4dc7-4121-49c2-a584-007a4fdfa49b">Being positive and having no regrets</h2><p>Branyas posted on X in December 2022 that she had no worries and no regrets, but was very positive.</p><p>Similarly, two centenarian experts working for LongeviQuest, an organization that validates the ages of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/surprising-centenarian-longevity-tips-met-superagers-2023-11">world's oldest people</a>, previously told BI that many of the supercentenarians they met didn't worry about things outside their control.</p><p>And a 2023 study by researchers at the Complutense University of Madrid found that looking for the positives in life was a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longevity-aging-recommendations-centenarians-have-in-common-study-2023-11">common trait among centenarians</a>.</p><h2 id="ba1e631b-2f8b-455e-a560-beb21d1fdcbb">Avoiding excess</h2><p>In another post on X from 2022, Branyas said she never followed a diet, but has "always eaten little."</p><p>Yumi Yamamoto, a centenarian expert at LongeviQuest whose <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/aging-secrets-longevity-advice-japan-supercentenarian-2023-12">great-grandmother lived to the age of 116</a>, previously told BI the Japanese supercentenarians she had met ate a balanced diet and didn't eat or drink to excess.</p><h2 id="e5de9b28-800a-4e3b-a7f0-f45d28cbb9f4">Eating yogurt every day</h2><p>Yogurt has an "infinite number of positive properties for the body," Branyas posted on X in December 2022. She ate a pot of natural yogurt every day.</p><p>A 2020 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that there were no consistent links between yogurt and a lower risk of dying. But dietitians often <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ways-gut-health-dietitian-sneaks-fermented-foods-into-her-diet-2024-6">recommend eating yogurt</a> for its high protein content, and one 2022 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8812230/">study</a> published in BMC Microbiology found that yogurt can increase gut microbe diversity, which is great for gut health.</p>

The world's oldest person just died at 117 with a clean bill of health. Here are her 5 longevity tips.

Recently, the world bid farewell to Maria Branyas Morera, who, at 116 years old, held the title of the world’s oldest living person. Her passing marks the end of an era, but it also sparks a certain curiosity: what habits allowed her and others like her to reach such incredible ages?<br /><br />To answer this question, let's take a short tour. From the sunny shores of Okinawa to the quiet towns of Sardinia, certain communities are known for producing an unusual number of <keyword id="20806686" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="centenarians" source="keywords">centenarians</keyword> — people who live to be 100 years old or more. These "<keyword id="22878860" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Blue-Zones" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Blue Zones" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Blue Zones">Blue Zones</keyword>" hold the secrets to a longer, healthier life, distilled into what Emmy-award winning researcher Dan Buettner calls the "Power 9." Let’s dive into these nine habits that could be your ticket to living a life that’s not just long, but full of vitality.<br /><h3 style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">1. You Gotta Move It, Move It</h3>Forget the gym membership or the marathon training. The world’s oldest people have never heard of CrossFit, and yet, they move constantly. How? By integrating movement into their daily routines. Whether it’s gardening, walking to the market, or dancing to their favourite tunes, these centenarians keep their bodies in motion without ever stepping foot on a treadmill.<br /><h3 style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">2. Know Your “Why”</h3>In Okinawa, they call it “<em>ikigai</em>”; in Nicoya, Costa Rica, it’s “<em>plan de vida</em>.” These terms translate to something more profound than just a job or a daily grind — they represent a deep-seated purpose that gets you out of bed every morning. Whether it’s taking care of family, volunteering, or simply enjoying life’s small pleasures, knowing your "<em>why</em>" could add years to your life.<br /><div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112705068" title="World’s oldest person Maria Branyas Morera passes away at 117; Japan’s 116-year-old Tomiko Itooka now oldest" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><h2>3. Relax, It’s Happy Hour Somewhere</h2>Stress is inevitable, but chronic stress is not. The longest-living people in the world have all figured out how to downshift — whether it’s through daily naps, a moment of prayer, or a glass of wine at sunset. These simple rituals are as effective as they are enjoyable, helping to reduce inflammation and stave off age-related diseases.<br /><h3 style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">4. Eat Until You’re <em>Almost</em> Full</h3>In a world of supersized meals and never-ending buffets, the 80% rule stands out like a beacon of common sense. Known as “<em>hara hachi bu</em>” in Okinawa, this practice involves stopping eating when you’re about 80% full. It’s a simple way to prevent overeating and maintain a healthy weight — two factors that are key to <keyword id="20186177" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="longevity" source="keywords">longevity</keyword>.<br /><h3 style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">5. Beans, Greens, and Everything in Between</h3>If you want to live long, it might be time to rethink your relationship with meat. In Blue Zones, the diet is predominantly plant-based, with beans, lentils, and vegetables forming the cornerstone of most meals. Meat, when it is consumed, is more of a side note than the main event.<br /><h3 style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">6. Drink to Your Health — Literally</h3>Yes, even wine makes the list. But before you pop that cork, remember that moderation is key. The world’s oldest people drink one to two glasses a day, often in the company of friends or with a meal. This isn’t about getting tipsy; it’s about enjoying the moment and reaping the benefits of a little bit of red wine on your heart.<br /><br />However, it may be important to know that scientific consensus still remains mixed on the matter. Some researchers assert that drinking in moderation can help with overall well-being, while others (and the World Health Organization) vehement that there is no “safe amount” to drink everyday.<br /><div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112589784" title="How to invest 3% of your day in exercise to live longer, according to an expert in healthy aging" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><h3 style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">7. Find Your Tribe</h3>There’s a reason why social media can’t replace face-to-face interaction. In Blue Zones, Dan explains that being part of a faith-based or community group is common in these parts, alleging that research has shown that attending services or gatherings regularly can add up to 14 years to your life.<br /><h3 style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">8. Family Matters</h3>Family is not just about who you’re related to by blood. In Blue Zones, centenarians often live with or near their families, taking care of one another in a way that strengthens emotional bonds and lowers disease rates. They commit to life partners and invest time in their children and grandchildren, ensuring that love and care flow both ways.<br /><h3 style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">9. You Are the Company You Keep</h3>Ever heard the saying that you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with? It’s especially true when it comes to longevity. In places like Okinawa, people form lifelong bonds with a close-knit group of friends — these relationships provide emotional support and encourage healthy behaviours, making them a key ingredient in the recipe for a <keyword id="22490492" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="long-life" source="keywords">long life</keyword>.<br />

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World’s oldest person Maria Branyas Morera passes away at 117; Japan’s 116-year-old Tomiko Itooka now oldest

BI India Bureau

The world's oldest person just died at 117 with a clean bill of health. Here are her 5 longevity tips.

Serafina Kenny

What habits do the world's oldest people have that help them live so long and healthily?

BI India Bureau