California born Maria Branyas Morera, the world's oldest person, turns 117 years old
'Super Avia Catalana' was born on March 4, 1907, in San Francisco. Eight years later, she moved with her family to Spain, where she still lives.
Maria Branyas Morera is the oldest person in the world and she turned 117 years old this Monday. The woman, known as "Super Àvia Catalana" (translated in English as "Super Catalonian Grandmother"), was born on March 4, 1907 in San Francisco.
However, her stay in the United States was short-lived. When she turned eight, her family decided to move to Catalonia, Spain, where she still lives. She is very active on X. She runs her social media account with the help of her 80-year-old daughter. She posted a message thanking all the people who wished her a happy birthday.
Maria Branyas Morera has held the title of oldest person in the world since January 2023. That was when Lucile Randon, 118 years old, died in France, passing the baton to the "Super Ávia Catalana" who, currently, lives in the Santa María del Tura nursing home. This Monday they celebrated her birthday. Eva Carrera Boix, director of the nursing home told Guinness World Records:
The California-born record holder is in excellent health. She has some mobility problems and is deaf. She lost hearing in one ear when she was very young, in 1915. It was then when, while playing with her brothers on a trip from America to Spain, she fell and as a result of the accident became deaf.
Research on the longevity of Maria Branyas Morera
Otherwise, Maria Branyas remains in excellent health. This prompted scientists like Manel Esteller to start taking saliva, blood and urine samples to try to discover the secret of her longevity. Esteller told the Spanish newspaper ABC:
She claims that her longevity is attributed to "order, tranquility, good connection with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, no worries, no regrets, lots of positivity and staying away from toxic people."