Race for Being Declared World's Oldest: Brazilian Could Elbow Out American

Local media reports indicate that Brazil's Sebastiana de Lourdes Silva, at a ripe old 116, has records to show she is the world's oldest woman, though the Guinness Book has not come calling. Silva, who hails from Resende, Rio de Janeiro state, was born 116 years ago this week, the news site G1 reported, noting her birthday was May 3, 1895.

The record book says that the world's oldest person is a US woman, 114-year-old Besse Cooper. She was born on August 26, 1896 in Tennessee.

G1 published documents purportedly attesting to the woman's birthdate.

Sebastiana Silva "has a clear mind, is active, happy and always helped take care of the other seniors," Teresinha Degmar Honorio, who runs the old age home where she has lived for 24 years, told G1.

"She came in to live here on her own. She lived alone, and had not had kids, and then she came to the retirement home and asked to stay," the director added.

Silva has had a stroke that left her blind and bedridden but she is still clear-headed, Honorio added.

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Source-AFP