Ethel Caterham celebrated her 117th birthday on Friday, Aug. 21 [2], in Surrey, southeast England [4].
As the recognized oldest living person in the world, Caterham's milestone provides a rare look at extreme human longevity and the biological limits of aging.
Born in 1909 [3], Caterham holds the Guinness World Record for the world's oldest living person and the oldest living woman [5]. She spent her birthday surrounded by family and friends in the United Kingdom [4].
"I had a lovely day celebrating with my family and friends," Caterham said.
The celebration marked 117 years [1] of life for the British woman. In a separate statement, she said, "I've had a lovely day."
Caterham's status as the world's oldest living person is officially recognized by Guinness World Records [6]. The event in Surrey drew attention to her longevity, a feat that places her in a very small group of documented supercentenarians globally.
“"I had a lovely day celebrating with my family and friends."”
Reaching the age of 117 places Caterham among the oldest humans ever verified. Such cases are of significant interest to geriatric science and longevity research, as they help researchers identify genetic markers and lifestyle factors that allow a small fraction of the population to survive well beyond the average human life expectancy.
