On 16 August, LongeviQuest’s Brazil researcher, Iara Souza, traveled to Caputira, Minas Gerais, to meet the nation’s oldest living resident, 114-year-old Izabel Rosa Pereira.
Born on 13 October 1910, Dona Izabel was 114 years and 307 days old at the time of the visit. She has been recognized as the oldest living person in Brazil and South America since 30 April 2025, following the passing of 116-year-old Inah Canabarro Lucas. Currently, she is the fourth-oldest living person in the world.
(The article was co-authored by Iara Souza and Gabriel Ainsworth.)
Arrival
Iara Souza, along with the Mayor of Caputira, Edgar Araújo.
Upon arriving in Caputira, our researcher, Iara Souza, first met with the mayor, Edgar Araújo, and later traveled to visit the nation’s oldest living person in a rural zone of Caputira.
Dona Izabel welcomed her warmly. She currently suffers from visual impairment due to cataracts and, because of her advanced age, cannot undergo surgery. She also has some difficulty hearing. Even so, she remains active, lucid, and surrounded by the affection of her numerous family members, who revere her as a true symbol of resilience, faith, and longevity.
Interview
She was eager to share her life story. She spoke about her years on the farm, where she cultivated crops and raised chickens, and about meeting her husband, Antônio José Pereira, a widower at the time. Together, they raised a large family: his three children from the first marriage, whom she adopted as her own, and twelve children they later had together.
Dona Izabel expressed her joy in recounting her memories. She was curious to know how the visitors had heard of her and was moved to learn that she is recognized as the oldest living person in Brazil. She also shared her enduring faith and devotion to Our Lady of Aparecida, whose presence has been a guiding force throughout her life.
One detail about Dona Izabel is her lively and joyful way of speaking. When presented with flowers, she smiled and said she loves them—especially roses, which she used to grow in her youth. During the snack, she noted that one of her granddaughters—among her many grandchildren—had baked the tapioca starch biscuits served that day.
The visit also highlighted the devotion and care of her family. Present were three of her children and three granddaughters—one of whom is bedridden—all gathered on the lively family farm. There, they continue to grow coffee and beans and raise pigs and chickens, preserving the simple, authentic way of life that has defined Dona Izabel’s journey.
Health and habits
She recalled her most recent doctor’s visit, describing the tests she had undergone and noting that she now takes only medication for hypertension. According to her family, her appetite remains strong: Dona Izabel eats everything and continues to enjoy her home’s traditional cuisine, often prepared with pork fat—an ingredient that enriches the flavor and reflects ancestral practices long preserved in the family. Until recently, she herself carried on the custom of slaughtering pigs and dividing the meat among relatives, a tradition inherited from her grandfather and later continued by her son, Sebastião, always under her watchful guidance.
In a gesture of affection, the current mayor shared his own memories, recalling how Dona Izabel, when preparing pork, would always set aside a portion especially for him—an act that reflected both her generosity and her close ties to the community.
During the interview, Iara Souza presented her with a small gift—a mandala of Our Lady of Aparecida.
During the interview, Iara Souza presented her with a small gift—a mandala of Our Lady of Aparecida. She was also honored with a custom-designed LongeviQuest trophy, created by Iara Souza and Gabriel Ainsworth, in recognition of her status as the oldest living person in Brazil.
Izabel shown with LQ researcher Iara Souza, sons Vicente, João, and Sebastião, granddaughters Dr. Ana Tássia and Tádea Brígida, and caregiver Vanderléia.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dona Izabel and her family for warmly welcoming our researcher, Iara Souza, into their home and granting us the honor of meeting her and learning about her remarkable life. We wish her many more years filled with health and happiness, and we look forward to meeting her again.
