AN ELDERLY woman who recently reached the milestone age of 120 years old could become the record holder for the oldest living person in the world.
Deolira Glicéria Pedro da Silva, who is in a healthy condition, turned twelve decades old on Monday 10 March and celebrated the big day with her family.
Deolira Gliceria Pedro da Silva could become the next holder of the Guinness World record for oldest living personNewsflash
NewsflashThe woman turned twelve decades old in March 10 and celebrated with family[/caption]
NewsflashThe great-great-grandmother says she has her birth certificate to prove her age[/caption]
Now, her loved ones are in touch with Guinness World Records hoping to secure her the record title of the world’s oldest person.
Currently, the holder of the title is Brazillian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas, aged 116 and born on 8 June 1908.
But this title could be changed to Silva, whose birth certificate dates her birthday in 1905, over three years earlier than Lucas.
Born in Porciúncula, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, Deolira currently lives in nearby Itaperuna.
Her family doctor, Juair de Abreu said: “We already have her birth certificate, which is one of the required documents.
“We’re just waiting for another document to submit the official request.”
Silva the mother of eight children, three of which are still active, including Ivani, who turns 90 years old later this month.
But her family circle doesn’t just stop at her eight children.
Silva is also the grandmother of seventeen grandchildren, great-grandchildren and even great-great-grandchildren.
Silva has harboured a passion for music and carnival for years and her family says she used to stay up all night to watch samba schools parade on TV.
Silva celebrated her 120th birthday with a live band and plenty of food.
Commenting on her impressive age Abreu said “She has always had a balanced diet, which has helped her digestion and swallowing.
“On top of that, she gets good-quality sleep, which is essential for cognitive health.
“She has no underlying conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes, doesn’t take any medication, and her latest test results were all good.”
Last year, the world’s second oldest man, aged 111, shared his secret to a long life.
Ben Ngemani Mabuza, said a “simple diet” was his key to living a long and healthy life.
Speaking to What’s the Press, he said: “Every day I eat porridge, meat and morogo, a wild type of African spinach.
“I know my plants.
“And when I’m out tending to my veggies, everybody who goes past stops to say hello.”
The previous holder of the record for the world’s oldest person was Japanese supercentenarian Tomiko Itooka who died in January 2025.
Born on 23 May 1908, Itooka claimed her long life was due to a love of bananas and a Japanese yoghurt drink known as Calpis.