Aging is a natural process which has been the subject of much research by professionals in order to understand a little better its functioning with the aim, not only of extending the lifespan, but of improving its quality. One of the greatest Spanish eminences in this sector is Dr. Manel Esteller.
Esteller is head of the Cancer Epigenetics Group at the Josep Carreras Institute and Professor of Genetics at the University of Barcelona, and has dedicated much of his career to scientifically study the causes of aging and how improved lifestyle, as well as greater longevity, can be achieved.
Necessary conditions for greater longevity
“If we keep adequate climatic, economic and food conditionsin 100 years we will see people who will be 110, 120 or 130 years old, that’s for sure,” said Dr. Manel Esteller in an interview with the Be on chain in 2024. At that time, the focus was not only on the study of the human being and the functioning of the body, but also on many other external factors that also need to be taken into account during the aging process.
“If we get respect and maintain the planet in healthy conditions and with the medical advancements that will occur, we will have important technological elements present in our bodies. We will not be as human in the biological sense of the term; safely we will have several spare parts in our organs and we will have a very different reality.” A solution which is not immediate, since he himself was responsible for clarifying that “We are talking hypothetically about the year 2124”. This development would transform the way we understand the body and aging.
The keys to longevity, according to Esteller
One of Esteller’s best-known investigations is the one he conducted some time ago with his research team, analyze the factors that could make María Branyas the oldest woman in the world that, although he died in Catalonia in August 2024, he did so at the age of 117, and having sent a clear message to Esteller: “Study me, learn from me”. The results of the investigations and tests were published in Cell Reports Medicine.
The key to Maria’s longevity is that she had a very strong immune system, which worked very efficiently and without causing autoimmune inflammation. Additionally, their telomeres were found to indicate that their biological age was 23 years younger than their actual age. Telomeres shorten slightly with each cell division, until they can no longer duplicate, signaling cell death. Telomere length is an indicator of biological age and their prolonged storage delays cellular aging.
Another element that contributed to María Branyas’ longevity was her intestinal microbiota, comparable to that of a young and healthy person. Additionally, he had highly efficient cholesterol and lipid metabolism and excellent mitochondrial function.
During an interview for National geographic in which he revealed this data, Esteller also emphasized that for greater longevity, not only new genetics are important, but also a healthy lifestylewhere there is no lack of physical exercise, healthy eating and toxic habits, such as alcohol and tobacco, are avoided.
References
Santos-Pujol, E., Noguera-Castells, A., Casado-Pelaez, M., García-Prieto, CA, Vasallo, C., Campillo-Marcos, I., Quero-Dotor, C., Crespo-García, E., Bueno-Costa, A., Setién, F., Ferrer, G., Davalos, V., Mereu, E., Pluvinet, R., Arribas, C., De la Torre, C., Villavicencio, F., Sumoy, L., Granada, I., . . . Esteller, M. (2025). The multiomics model of the individual with the most extreme lifespan. Cell Reports Medicine, 6(10), 102368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.102368
About The Author
