As kids, living for a hundred years was a thing we all took for granted, however as we grow old, it has become very clear how it is a goal not many of us can achieve. However, there are still many centenarians, who not only grew old, but also crossed the 100 years old milestone.

One such centenarian was Maria Branyas Morera, who passed away last year at the remarkable age of 117 years and 168 days, she was the world's oldest known person. Before her death, she requested that doctors study her to understand her extraordinary longevity.

Dr. Manel Esteller, chairman of Genetics at the University of Barcelona’s School of Medicine, led a three-year effort to analyze Branyas' health. A study published in Cell Reports Medicine by Esteller and his colleagues identified a combination of factors that contributed to her long life.

What Were The Reason Behind Branyas’s Long Life?

The main lesson from studying Maria is that reaching an extremely old age—what scientists call extreme longevity—is a combination of two things: what you inherit from your parents (your genes) and how you live your life (your habits). The researchers think these two factors might be about half and half in importance.

Dr. Esteller explained that Maria had "very good genes." These are like powerful natural shields that protected her from many common sicknesses. She had unique variations in her DNA that most people don't have.

In addition to her strong genes, she had "very good habits." She didn't smoke or drink alcohol, both of which are known to harm health. Her diet was also very healthy, rich in things like fish, olive oil, and, most notably, yogurt.

How Yogurt Plays A Part In Longevity

One of the most interesting parts of her diet was the yogurt. Maria ate three yogurts every day! The important thing is that her yogurt was plain and had no added sugar. This kind of yogurt is packed with good bacteria that help your stomach and intestines, which is called your gut.

Dr. Esteller pointed out that these good bacteria help fight chronic inflammation. Think of chronic inflammation as a low-level, continuous "fire" in the body that gradually damages cells and is a major cause of aging and disease. By fighting this inflammation, the yogurt likely helped keep her body healthy for longer.

The study suggested that her diet probably helped create a very healthy mix of bacteria in her gut, especially one type called Bifidobacterium. While they can't be 100% sure the yogurt was the only cause, they believe it likely contributed a lot to her well-being and advanced age.

Does Old Age Come With Cognitive Decline And Medicines?

Maria Branyas Morera's life was historically long. She was born in the United States in 1907 but lived in Spain for most of her life. She lived through huge world events, including two world wars and two global pandemics! She was a mother of three and a great-grandmother to 13.

Crucially, she didn't just live for a long time; she lived a very healthy life. According to the doctors, she never developed common, serious conditions like cancer, heart disease, or dementia (a condition that affects memory). The study proves that getting extremely old doesn't automatically mean you'll be sick or frail. The researchers showed that it's possible to be extremely old and healthy at the same time.

To learn all this, the scientists took samples from four parts of her body: her blood, saliva, urine, and stool (poop). However, the doctors stressed that Maria was just one person. Because aging is slightly different for every person, they cautioned that we can't draw conclusions that apply perfectly to everyone based on just her case.

Vaccines are best known for protecting us from infectious diseases, but research suggests their benefits may extend beyond that. Several studies show that routine immunizations may also be linked to a reduced risk of dementia. While more research is needed to establish causation, the evidence is growing stronger, offering another reason to stay up to date with vaccines.

The Flu Shot: More Than Seasonal Protection

Flu season in the United States affects tens of millions each year, with thousands of deaths reported annually. Beyond the immediate risk of severe illness, influenza and related complications such as pneumonia have been linked to neurodegenerative conditions, including dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

Large-scale studies, including a 2023 study published in journal Neuron, highlight the long-term benefits of flu vaccines. One study published in 2022, in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, titled: Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease Following Influenza Vaccination: A Claims-Based Cohort Study Using Propensity Score Matching, is an analysis of over 1.8 million adults aged 65 and older found that those who received at least one flu shot were 40% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease within the next four years. Another study with 70,000 participants in 2024 found a 17 percent reduction in dementia risk.

Despite these findings, fewer than half of Americans get the flu vaccine each year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual flu shots for everyone over six months old, usually in the early fall.

The Shingles Vaccine: Strongest Evidence

Among vaccines studied, the shingles vaccine shows the most consistent association with reduced dementia risk. A 2025 study in Wales published in journal Nature, titled A Natural Experiment on the Effect of Herpes Zoster Vaccination on Dementia, involving over 280,000 adults, reported a 20 percent lower dementia risk over seven years among those who received the vaccine. Similar results were observed in an Australian study of more than 100,000 patients.

The shingles vaccine prevents the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox in childhood and remains dormant in nerve cells. In adulthood, reactivation leads to shingles, a painful rash that can trigger chronic complications. Its ability to protect the nervous system may explain its link to dementia prevention.

The CDC recommends two doses of the shingles vaccine for adults aged 50 and older, and for younger adults with weakened immunity. Yet, vaccination rates remain low, only 36% of eligible Americans received it in 2022.

The RSV Vaccine: A New Option

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common infection that can become dangerous in infants and older adults. In the U.S., it leads to thousands of hospitalizations and deaths every year. The first RSV vaccine was only approved in 2023, but early findings already suggest cognitive benefits.

A recent study, published in journal Nature, titled Lower Risk of Dementia with AS01- adjuvanted vaccination against Shingles and Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections, of more than 430,000 people showed that those who received the RSV vaccine had a lower risk of dementia over 18 months compared with people who got the flu vaccine. The CDC currently recommends RSV vaccination for adults over 75, and for those over 50 at higher risk.

The Tdap Vaccine: An Added Layer of Protection

The combined tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine is another shot linked to lower dementia risk. A 2021 study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, titled: Comparison of rates of Dementia among older Adult Recipients of two, one, or No Vaccinations, of more than 200,000 patients found that individuals who received both shingles and Tdap vaccines had a further reduction in risk compared with those who received only one.

The CDC advises a Tdap vaccine for all adolescents and a booster every 10 years for adults. Despite this, only about 30 percent of eligible U.S. adults had received it as of 2022.

Why Vaccines May Matter for the Brain

Scientists believe vaccines may protect the brain in two main ways. First, by preventing severe infections, they reduce the risk of systemic inflammation, which has been linked to brain atrophy and dementia. Second, vaccines may enhance immune system function in ways that indirectly protect cognitive health.

Although studies cannot fully rule out differences in lifestyle between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups, stronger evidence continues to emerge, particularly for the shingles vaccine. Researchers are now calling for randomized trials to confirm the protective effect.

Staying Up to Date

Health experts stress that while vaccines may play a role, dementia risk is also influenced by lifestyle factors. The 2024 Lancet Commission reported that up to 45 percent of cases could be delayed or prevented with changes such as maintaining healthy blood pressure, staying socially engaged, moderating alcohol, and addressing hearing loss.

Vaccines, however, add another layer of defense. With their ability to protect against infections and potentially guard against cognitive decline, keeping up to date with routine immunizations may be one of the simplest steps toward protecting long-term brain health.

When it comes to birth control and fertility, there are plenty of misconceptions. One of the most common is the belief that using contraceptive pills can cause infertility. But is there any truth to this, or is it just a myth? Infertility is generally defined as the inability to conceive after a year of unprotected sex. To clarify the matter, we spoke with Dr. Geeta Shroff, Director of the NuBella Centre for Women’s Health, and Dr. Juhee Jain, Senior Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, for their expert insights.

Do Contraceptive Pills Cause Infertility?According to Dr. Shroff, “Contraceptive pills do not directly cause infertility; such cases are extremely rare.” Hormonal birth control temporarily prevents pregnancy by delaying fertility, but once you stop taking it, your reproductive system usually returns to normal. Some women may notice a short delay in conception, but in most cases, fertility comes back within a few months to a year.

It’s important to remember that everyone’s experience can differ. Factors like age, overall health, and pre-existing medical conditions can influence how quickly fertility returns. While hormonal contraceptives can help regulate periods and manage conditions like endometriosis, they do not permanently affect the ability to get pregnant.

Types Of Contraception Pills

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Pills and Their Potential Effects on Fertility

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A consistently thin uterine lining can make it harder for a fertilized egg to implant, so women who struggle to conceive after stopping the pill should consult a doctor for a proper assessment.

How Pills Affect Ovulation and Reproductive Health

1. Menstrual Cycle Regulation

• Positive: Many women experience more regular periods, which can ease irregularities and make cycles more predictable.
• Negative: Some may notice missed periods or unexpected spotting between cycles.

2. Hormonal Balance

• Positive: Pills can stabilize hormones, offering relief for conditions like PCOS and endometriosis.
• Negative: Long-term use may lead to hormonal imbalances once the pill is stopped, potentially affecting ovulation.

3. Fertility Considerations

• Temporary Delay: Contraceptive pills do not cause permanent infertility, but some women may see a brief delay in returning fertility, typically resolving within months to a year.
Rare Long-term Effects: In uncommon cases, issues like a persistently thin uterine lining can make conceiving more difficult.

Overall, while contraceptive pills can temporarily affect fertility, they do not pose a permanent risk. Women concerned about conceiving after using the pill should consult their healthcare provider for guidance and reassurance.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive movement disorder that affects the nervous system, the network of nerves controlling movement and other vital body functions. Symptoms usually appear gradually. Often, the first sign is a subtle tremor in one hand, or sometimes a foot or jaw. Tremors are common, but Parkinson’s can also cause stiffness, slower movements, and balance problems, increasing the risk of falls.

Could Oral Bacteria Be a Trigger For Parkinson’s Disease?

“Our study shows how oral microbes in the gut may affect the brain and contribute to Parkinson’s,” says Professor Ara Koh. “Targeting the gut microbiome could offer new treatment possibilities.” The findings, published in Nature Communications, revealed a higher presence of S. mutans in the gut of Parkinson’s patients compared to healthy individuals.

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More importantly, S. mutans produces an enzyme called urocanate reductase (UrdA) and a metabolite known as imidazole propionate (ImP). Researchers found that both UrdA and ImP were present at higher levels in the gut and blood of Parkinson’s patients. ImP, in particular, appears capable of entering the bloodstream, reaching the brain, and potentially contributing to the loss of dopaminergic neurons, which is the nerve cells essential for controlling movement.

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In experiments with mice, researchers introduced S. mutans into the gut or modified E. coli to produce UrdA. The mice then showed higher levels of ImP in both their blood and brain. Alongside this, they developed key signs of Parkinson’s disease, including the loss of dopamine-producing neurons, increased brain inflammation, trouble with movement, and greater buildup of alpha-synuclein, a protein closely linked to the disease’s progression.

What Is Streptococcus Mutans?

Can We Reduce Streptococcus Mutans?

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day
• Clean between your teeth using floss, interdental brushes, or water flossers
• Maintain regular dental checkups
• Limit sugary foods and drinks, replacing them with healthier options
• Consider sealants on grooves and pits if recommended by your dentist