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The world's oldest person, Maria Branyas Moreira, died in the early hours of August 20 at the age of 117 years and 168 days.

Moreira celebrates his 117th birthday (Image source: Guinness World Records)

Guinness World Records also released a statement confirming that Moreira had died at the age of 117 years and 168 days, making her the eighth oldest verifiable person in history. "Maria passed away peacefully in a nursing home in Catalonia, Spain, where she had lived for 20 years."

Shortly before her death, Moreira seemed to have a premonition. She told her family: "I don't know when I will die, but soon this long journey will be over. Living too long has exhausted me. Death will find me sooner or later, but I hope that when it finds me, I will be smiling, free and satisfied."

(Image source: Guinness World Records)

Moreira was born in San Francisco, USA on March 4, 1907. When she was 8 years old, she returned to Spain with her family and settled in Catalonia. Since then, she has lived in Catalonia.

In 1915, during a voyage from the United States to Spain, Moreira fell while playing with her brothers, causing permanent deafness in one ear, which was also an important factor in her poor hearing in her later years.

(Image source: Guinness World Records)

In 1931, Moreira married Catalan doctor Joan Moret, with whom she had three children. Her husband died in 1976, and her only son Auguste also died in a tractor accident at the age of 86.

Moreira lived through both world wars in Europe. She spent the last decades of her life in a nursing home and, despite her advanced age, with the help of her daughter, Moreira was able to use social media to communicate with her thousands of followers.

In 2020, 113-year-old Moreira was infected with the new coronavirus, but fortunately she recovered fully after a few days.

In January 2023, Moreira was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the oldest living person following the death of Lucile Randon (France) at the age of 118.

Scientist Manel Estler, who spoke to her at length, told the media: "Her brain is completely clear. She remembers clearly what happened when she was four years old, and she does not have any cardiovascular disease common in the elderly. Obviously, this is related to genetic factors, because several members of her family are over 90 years old."

(Image source: Guinness World Records)

Moreira claims she has lived so long thanks to "order, tranquility, good connections with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, no worries, no regrets, very positive, and staying away from toxic people."

She added: "I think longevity is also about luck, both luck and good genes."

In March this year, Moreira spent her 117th birthday in a nursing home. At that time, she was in very good health and had no physical or mental health problems except hearing impairment and mobility problems.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the oldest person in history was Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who died at 122 years and 164 days. Moreira is 12th on the longevity list.

After Moreira's death, the world's oldest person is now 116-year-old Japanese woman Tomiko Itooka.

Jimu News, Guinness World Records, Cailian Press

(Source: Jimu News)