World’s oldest person dies healthy at 177: tips for longevity

Despite her age, she was active on X and posted in December 2022 that she believed how long a person lived was down to luck and genetics.

She had an idea – some people are genetically predisposed to live longer. But lifestyle factors can also influence how long people live.

Thanks to greater awareness of healthy behaviors, as well as medical advances and public health initiatives, more people are surviving past age 65, according to a 2020 report from the U.S. Census Bureau. The Pew Research Center estimates that the number of centenarians in the US will triple over the next 30 years.

Here are some of the factors Branyas believed helped her reach triple figures.

Avoiding toxic people

Branyas said staying “away from toxic people” has helped her live this long, Business Insider previously reported.

They may be right—a 2020 study published in Health Psychology found that people who were criticized by their partner were more likely to die early, especially older adults.

Having “strong” family ties.

“Strong, rich, and caring family ties act as a mattress that cushions loneliness,” Branyas posted on X earlier this year, adding that she was “lucky” in that regard.

Having contact with loved ones is linked to a longer life, according to a 2023 study. It was found that elderly people who were socially isolated from living alone, who do not have family and friends visiting often, or do not do social activities group, they were up to 77% more likely to die early.

Being positive and without regrets

Branyas posted on X in December 2022 that she had no worries and no regrets, but was very positive.

Similarly, two centenarian experts who work for LongeviQuest, an organization that validates the ages of the world’s oldest people, previously told BI that many of the supercentenarians they met didn’t worry about things in their out of their control.

And a 2023 study by researchers at the Complutense University of Madrid found that looking for the positives in life was a common trait among centenarians.

Avoiding excess

In another X post from 2022, Branyas said he never dieted, but “always ate a little.”

Yumi Yamamoto, a centenarian expert at LongeviQuest whose great-grandmother lived to be 116, previously told BI the Japanese supercentenarians she met ate a balanced diet and did not overeat or drink.

Eat yogurt every day

Yogurt has an “infinite number of positive properties for the body,” Branyas posted on X in December 2022. She ate a pot of natural yogurt every day.

A 2020 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found no consistent links between yogurt and a lower risk of dying. But dietitians often recommend eating yogurt for its high protein content, and a 2022 study published in BMC Microbiology found that yogurt can increase the diversity of gut microbes, which is great for gut health.