Deolira Gliceria Pedro da Silva is determined to become the oldest living person worldwide. At 120, this is the great-grandmother from Rio de Janeiro. At present, Guinness World Records recognizes Inah Canabarro Lucas at 116, a nun from the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, as the oldest living person. However, the family and doctors of Deolira are optimistic that she will beat this record soon.
Born on March 10, 1905, in the rural town of Porciuncula, Deolira has documents that prove her claim to be the oldest living person, according to her granddaughter, Doroteia Ferreira da Silva. Today, she resides in a colorfully painted home in Itaperuna, cared for by her granddaughters, Doroteia and Lidia Ferreira da Silva. Doctors and researchers who are interested in learning about her longevity also keep regular tabs on her.
“Mrs. Deolira will turn 120 in 2025, and she is in great health for her age, not taking any medication,” said her geriatric doctor, Juair de Abreu Pereira, who is assisting with her application to Guinness World Records.
On the other hand, she may not easily be confirmed by age. Significant floods that hit the place over nearly two decades ago had most of her authentic documents destroyed and may deny the official acknowledgment of her age. Despite this lacuna in documents, Mateus Vidigal, a researcher from the University of São Paulo, affirms that Deolira is over 100 years old. Such an affirmation comes from the Brazilian super-elderly population study.
She thinks that healthy diets and sleep helped Deolira live up until the old age. Dr. Pereira can attest to how she interacts freely with her family, still in good health eating bananas daily, no chronic illness, like blood pressure or diabetes.
