Deolira Gliceria Pedro da Silva from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is approaching what she claims to be her 120th birthday. She vies for recognition by the Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest living person.
Currently, the title is held by 116-year-old Inah Canabarro Lucas, a nun from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. However, Deolira’s family and doctors are optimistic she will soon claim this title.
“According to our documents, she is the oldest in the world, though not yet recognized in the book,” said Deolira’s granddaughter, Doroteia Ferreira da Silva, who is half her age.
Pedro da Silva, born on March 10, 1905, in Porciuncula, Rio, now resides in a colourful house in Itaperuna with her granddaughters, Doroteia, 60, and Leida Ferreira da Silva, 64, who care for her.
“Deolira, who turns 120 in 2025, is in good health and takes no medication,” stated geriatric doctor Juair de Abreu Pereira, who assists the family with the Guinness World Records process.
Guinness mentioned they have yet to confirm receipt of Pedro da Silva’s application due to the volume of claims they receive globally.
Past regional floods destroyed many of Deolira’s original documents, complicating official age verification.
Despite documentation issues, Mateus Vidigal, a University of Sao Paulo researcher, confirmed her age exceeds 100 years through his study on Brazil’s super elderly.
Vidigal noted, “While Mrs. Deolira is part of the study, the lack of approved documentation poses a challenge for formal recognition.”
Dr. Pereira credits her diet and sleep habits as key to her long life. Deolira enjoys strong family bonds and likes eating bananas.
Her granddaughter, Doroteia, admired Deolira’s health, “I wish to reach her age in such good health; she has none of the ailments like high blood pressure or diabetes that we face.”
