Deolira Gliceria Pedro da Silva and her family are speaking with researchers to get her crowned as the golden oldie after showing off her ancient ID and sharing the secrets to immaculate longevity.
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Living in Itaperuna, northwest of Rio, Deolira was born on March, 10, 1905 meaning not only has she lived through both World Wars but could also be two years older than the current record holder.
The Guinness world record book currently says 117-year-old Maria Branyas Morera is the oldest woman on the planet but this could soon change.
But not only could Deolira be the oldest woman but also the oldest person overall.
The fascinated team at the Centre for Human Genome and Stem Cell Studies at the University of Sao Paulo are now set to study Deolira to find out how she has lived so long.
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I think grandma will even reach 130 years old
Doroteia Ferreira da Silva
Deolira’s granddaughter Doroteia Ferreira da Silva revealed that even at 119 years old the amazing lady is still constantly on the move.
She even thinks her super great nan could easily live for another decade.
Doroteia said: “It’s hard to surpass my grandmother, you know? She was very active at home.
“She took care of the house and yard, took care of the pigs and chickens.
“In terms of food, the only thing she doesn’t eat is pineapple because she has allergies.
“I think grandma will even reach 130 years old.”
Deolira even shocked a top geriatric expert with her good health.
Dr Juair de Abreu Pereira described her as “interactive and lucid” and said the key could be down to her close-knit family looking after her.
The Brazil native has been around for so long that not only has she outlived her siblings but tragically also four of her own children.
But the rest of her very large family have kept her safe and in good shape with Deolira having seen a whopping 104 relatives be born since her.
Along with her seven children, Deolira also has 20 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and 37 great-great-grandchildren.
But she is reportedly starting to struggle as she can no longer walk and uses a wheelchair to get around the family home.
Granddaughter Leida Ferreira da Silva, 63, said: “My grandmother uses a wheelchair because she fell and fractured her pelvis, but she didn’t need surgery.”
Dr Pereira has also noticed a decline in her hearing.
But he has praised her ability to be so strong still despite never taking any medication.
Her family and Dr Pereira are currently in talks with world record icons Guinness to get her officially recognised as the oldest person in the world.
Mrs Deolira’s case is a rarity to be studied because she is at least 50 years past the life expectancy of the average Brazilian, which is around 75 years old
Dr Mateus Vidigal
Dr Mateus Vidigal from the University of Sao Paulo has also been looking into Deolira’s intriguing tale.
He said: “Genoma-USP has been studying Brazilian centenarians with the aim of analysing and understanding the contribution of genetics to longevity and quality of life.
“We have also studied exceptional longevity, which includes individuals over 110 years old who have had their age validated by international organisations.
“Mrs Deolira’s case is a rarity to be studied because she is at least 50 years past the life expectancy of the average Brazilian, which is around 75 years old.
“She also survived the COVID-19 pandemic. So, we are very interested in studying her for all these reasons.”
The oldest things in the world
These people, places and things prove that getting old isn’t always a bad thing.
PEOPLE
Maria Branyas Morera still holds the record of the oldest women currently after she turned 117 on March 4.
Born in San Francisco, the grandmother has lived most of her life in Spain‘s Catalonia region and has been in the same nursing home for the past 23 years.
Maria took the honour off a blind French nun called Lucile Randon (pictured) after she died in January 2023.
The oldest man comes up looking young compared to the ladies with Juan Vicente Pérez Mora being 114 years old.
He says the key to his never-ending aging is a glass of Spanish alcohol daily known as aguardiente.
ANIMALS
The world’s oldest living land animal is a friendly Seychelles giant tortoise named Jonathan.
Coming in at 191 Jonathan’s estimated 1832 birth year makes him older than stamps, the telephone, and the photograph.
A cat taken in as a rescue kitten in 1991 is seen as the world’s oldest living feline.
Rosie, a fluffy-tailed tortoise-shell, is due to celebrate her 33rd birthday in June.
COUNTRY
Despite much debate, San Marino is widely considered the world’s oldest country being first founded on September 3, in the year 301BC.
FEMALE BODYBUILDER
At 86 years old Ernestine Shepherd is the oldest female bodybuilder to compete today.
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