Two months away from what she claims to be her 120th birthday, Deolira Gliceria Pedro da Silva, a great-grandmother from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is eagerly pursuing recognition as the world’s oldest living person. While Guinness World Records currently lists Inah Canabarro Lucas, a 116-year-old nun from Brazil, as the titleholder, Deolira’s family and doctors believe she is actually the true record-breaker.
Her granddaughter, Doroteia Ferreira da Silva, who is 60, recently uncovered documents confirming Deolira was born on March 10, 1905, in the rural town of Porciúncula. Now residing in a brightly colored home in Itaperuna, she is cared for by her granddaughters, Doroteia, 60, and Leida, 64, along with a team of doctors and researchers studying her extraordinary longevity. Given that Brazil’s current life expectancy is 76.4 years, Deolira has surpassed it by over four decades, making her an exceptional case in the field of gerontology.
Dr. Juair de Abreu Pereira, a geriatric specialist who frequently checks in on her, confirms that Deolira remains in relatively good health. Remarkably, she does not take any medication. “She is in a good general state for her age, and we are assisting her family with the Guinness World Records application,” Dr. Pereira said. However, Guinness has yet to confirm receiving her claim, noting that they process numerous applications from people around the world asserting they are the oldest.
A major obstacle to verifying her age is that severe floods in the region nearly 20 years ago destroyed many of Deolira’s original documents. Despite this challenge, researchers such as Mateus Vidigal from the University of São Paulo affirm that she is undoubtedly over 100 years old. However, her case lacks documentation that meets the strict vetting criteria required by global record-keeping organizations.
Dr. Pereira attributes her impressive longevity to a balanced diet, healthy sleep habits, and an active interaction with her family. Among her favorite foods, bananas stand out. “While we struggle with high blood pressure and diabetes, she has no such conditions,” said her granddaughter Doroteia.
As Deolira approaches her 120th birthday in March 2025, her family remains hopeful that her age will be officially recognized, securing her place in history as one of the longest-living people ever documented.
READ MORE: