World of the Bizarre

116-year-old is now the world's oldest person

By T.K. Randall
May 17, 2016 ·  8 comments

Despite being 116, Emma Morano still lives on her own in Italy. Image Credit: CC BY 2.0 Steven Depolo Following the death of previous record holder Susannah Mushatt Jones recently, Morano is now officially the world's oldest living person having reached the grand old age of 116.

Born in 1899 about one month before the turn of the century, the supercentenarian still lives on her own at her home in Italy and is in remarkably good health aside from being almost totally deaf.

When asked about the secret to her longevity, she maintains that her diet is a major factor."For breakfast I eat biscuits with milk or water," she said. "Then during the day I eat two eggs - one raw and one cooked - just like the doctor recommended when I was 20 years old. "

Extreme old age is actually relatively common in Italy and scientists have been studying the lives of some of the oldest among them to work out exactly what it is that helps them to live for so long.

"Emma seems to go against everything that could be considered the guidelines for correct nutrition," said Dr. Carlo Bava. "She has always eaten what she wants, with a diet that is absolutely repetitive. For years, she has eaten the same thing every day, not much vegetables or fruit."

"But she's gotten this far."

Source: USA Today | Comments (8)

Tags: Emma Morano, Old Age