World’s oldest person unveils the secret to longevity
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Disclaimer: In Spain, many people have two surnames and the first surname is used. This is why María Branyas Morera is referred to in this article as ‘Ms Branyas’.
We’ve all heard the secrets to living a long and happy life: eat healthily, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep.
While these are good tips and certainly worth following, the world’s oldest living person wants to share her own piece of wisdom with people who want to live as long as her.
When asked by Guinness World Records officials what was the key to living such a long life, 115-year-old María Branyas Morera had a simple but clever response:
'Order, tranquillity, good connection with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, no worries, no regrets, lots of positivity and staying away from toxic people!' she said.
Advice from the world’s oldest-living person: stay away from negative people. Credit: Belle Co/Pexels
Ms Branyas became the oldest known person alive after 118-year-old Lucille Randon passed away at her nursing home in the French town of Toulon on January 17.
Ms Branyas made headlines when it was reported she survived a bout of COVID-19 infections in May 2020. Spain was one of the hardest-hit countries before vaccines were developed.
At one point, she and Ms Randon were believed to be the oldest COVID survivors.
‘I think longevity is also about being lucky. Luck and good genetics,’ Ms Branyas told Guinness officials.
She was born in San Francisco on 4 March 1907. A year after that, her family moved to Spain and back again to the US after a while. Over the next eight years, the family moved to different states, including Texas and New Orleans where Ms Branyas’ father founded the Spanish-language magazine, Mercurio.
Shortly after, the family moved back to Spain and settled in Catalonia.
María Branyas Morera, aged 115 years old. Credit: Guinness World Records
Ever since moving to Spain, Ms Branyas’ life saw many defining moments.
Her father passed from pulmonary tuberculosis while on the journey from the US to Spain. It is believed that the route was winding because World War I made the passage dangerous, hence their ship had to reroute to Cuba and the Azores.
In 1918, the Spanish flu pandemic impacted countries all over the world. Then, the Spanish civil war broke out when Ms Branyas was 29, leaving her with ‘very bad memories’. Soon after, World War II broke out.
But Ms Branyas didn’t let these events deter her from finding happiness. She started a family with her husband, Dr Joan Moret, and they have three children, 11 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren together.
Though it almost wasn’t to be! On the couple’s wedding day, they learned that their priest had unexpectedly passed away. There was no telephone at the church to call for another chaplain, so the family had to search for another one.
Despite the whirlwind of experiences, Ms Branyas has taken everything in stride – including advancements in technology. She said she accepts social media and digital communications, uses a voice-to-text device and has an account on social media site Twitter to stay in touch with her loved ones.
‘Life is not eternal for anyone. At my age, a new year is a gift, a humble celebration, a beautiful journey, a moment of happiness. Let’s enjoy life together,’ she posted on Twitter on New Year’s Day.
Ms Branyas’ advice seems to hold scientific evidence, as some studies link positive emotions with greater physical health. According to experts, a person with a positive outlook doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t feel negative emotions, such as anger or sadness. It means they have found the balance between positive and negative emotions and can regulate them well.
Experts suggest that people should ‘savour’ positive emotions more, as this can activate the ventral striatum, a part of the brain linked to healthy body changes. This includes lowering levels of stress hormones.
