The secret to longevity: Avoid toxic people

Maria Branyas Morera has seen more history than any other living human being.

The 115-year-old Spaniard was officially declared the oldest known person alive in January, on the death of Lucille Randon, 118, a French nun who died in her Toulon, France, nursing home. Branyas was confirmed the world’s oldest person by Guinness World Records.

Branyas Morera (aged 115) on 15 August 2022, with her daughter Maria Teresa Moret Branyas (aged 88).

 She was born in California in 1907 and moved to Spain in 1915, when her family decided to return to Catalonia. Branyas has lived through two world wars, the opening of the Panama canal, the Russian revolution, the Spanish civil war, the introduction of television, the founding of the United Nations, the lunar landing, the 1918 flu pandemic and Covid. In fact, she is thought to be the world’s oldest living Covid survivor.

 After all that, she has some thoughts about her long life.

 “I think longevity is … about being lucky,” Branyas said, according to the Guinness website. “Luck and good genetics.”

 But Guinness said she also credits factors that make for a stress-free, emotionally stable life: “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.”

 Branyas was born in San Francisco on March 4, 1907, a year after her parents moved from Spain. The family moved to Texas and New Orleans, before they returned to Spain and settled in Catalonia.

She married and has had three children, 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

 While she has seen the world change dramatically, Branyas has embraced technological advances in technology, including social media and digital communications in particular. For example, she uses a voice-to-text device and Twitter to stay connected with loved ones.

 “Life is not eternal for anyone,” she tweeted on New Year’s Day, according to an article about the supercentenarian that appeared in The Guardian. “At my age, a new year is a gift, a humble celebration, a beautiful journey, a moment of happiness. Let’s enjoy life together.”

 In a series of tweets in Catalan following Guinness’ recognition, CNN reported that Branyas said she was “surprised and grateful” for the interest about her new status but that recent days had been “stressful” and that she would not do more interviews.

“I need peace and tranquility,” she tweeted, according to CNN. “I have lived in the Tura Residence [nursing home] for 22 years and do not want the day-to-day life of the residents or the staff who take care of us to change.”

 Branyas lives one of Methuselah Foundation’s strategies, “Lust for Life.” Though she has lived through good times and bad, she remains connected and engaged. This overcomes the problems of  depression, loss of purpose and social isolation that pose life challenges for older adults.

 We recognized the impact early on. That is why Lust for Life is one of the seven strategies that guide Foundation investments, planning and policies focuses specifically on this issue. We strive to support organizations and  therapies that enable older adults to remain active and fully engaged.

 We came up with our seven strategies because no single solution will lengthen the healthy human lifespan. It requires a combination of things to help us reach our goal of making 90 the new 50 by 2030.

 And, as a practical matter, it will be helpful to society to make sure that people who age remain engaged for as long as possible – in life, in work and with loved ones.