Science Alert reported that scientists observed significant erosion in Maria’s telomeres which are the protective ends of chromosomes. While short telomeres are usually linked to higher mortality, recent research suggests they may not be a reliable marker of aging in the very old. In Maria’s case, her unusually short telomeres might even have worked in her favor, possibly limiting the ability of cancer cells to grow.
“The picture that emerges from our study, although derived only from this one exceptional individual, shows that extremely advanced age and poor health are not intrinsically linked,” the researchers led by epigeneticists Eloy Santos-Pujol and Aleix Noguera-Castells, said, according to Science Alert.
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Dr Esteller concluded that “the clues for extreme longevity are a mix between what we inherited from our parents and what we do in our lives,” adding that “this mix, the percentage depends, but it can be […] half and half.”