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Three Brazilian Sisters, Aged 109, 104, and 103, Named World's Oldest Living Siblings
🇫🇮 Finland /Health & Science

Three Brazilian Sisters, Aged 109, 104, and 103, Named World's Oldest Living Siblings

From Helsingin Sanomat · () Finnish

Translated from Finnish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Three Brazilian sisters, aged 109, 104, and 103, have been recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living sibling trio.
  • Researchers from the University of São Paulo are studying the sisters to understand the genetic factors contributing to their exceptional longevity and preserved cognitive and physical abilities.
  • The sisters attribute their long lives to simple factors like exercise and healthy eating, recalling a childhood of swimming and fishing with fresh food.

In Rio de Janeiro, three Brazilian sisters have captured global attention, not just for their remarkable ages but for their combined longevity. Levita de Deus Nunes, 109, Zoraide de Deus Mota, 104, and Zulina de Deus Nunes, 103, were recently certified by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living sibling trio.

We are looking for protective genes through DNA testing, of which we know there are several.

— Mayana ZatzA researcher from the University of São Paulo explains the scientific approach to studying the sisters' longevity.

Their extraordinary lifespans have become a subject of intense scientific interest. Researchers from the University of São Paulo are investigating the sisters, employing DNA testing to identify protective genes that may explain their sustained physical and cognitive functions despite advanced age. "We are looking for protective genes through DNA testing, of which we know there are several," explained researcher Mayana Zatz to Reuters.

But because they also live close to each other, they have a support network and a family that can help if needed. The community certainly also has an impact.

— Ben MeyersLongeviquest CEO highlights the role of social support in the sisters' long lives.

Scientists believe genetics play a more significant role than environment in maintaining the sisters' well-being. "Because the sisters have lived so long, there is clearly a strong genetic factor behind it," said Ben Meyers, CEO of Longeviquest, a company that maintains statistics on the elderly and collaborates with Guinness. However, Meyers also noted the importance of their social environment: "But because they also live close to each other, they have a support network and a family that can help if needed. The community certainly also has an impact."

Everything was fresh. We didn't have a refrigerator.

— Zulina de Deus NunesOne of the sisters describes her childhood diet and lifestyle.

The sisters themselves attribute their longevity to simpler factors. Zulina, the youngest at 103, recalls a childhood filled with swimming and fishing, emphasizing the freshness of their food in an era before refrigerators. They describe their lives as "quite ordinary." Levita, the second eldest, helped care for her younger siblings and manage household chores while their parents worked the fields. Zoraide worked as a teacher and later as a nurse, raising five children. Zulina was a homemaker for six children before moving to Rio de Janeiro to be closer to Zoraide after a divorce, with Levita soon following.

Because the sisters have lived so long, there is clearly a strong genetic factor behind it.

— Ben MeyersLongeviquest CEO discusses the genetic component of the sisters' extreme longevity.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Helsingin Sanomat in Finnish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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