A new study suggests that genetic inheritance from hunter-gatherers who lived in Europe over 10,000 years ago is associated with a significantly higher chance of living past 100. Researchers at the University of Bologna analyzed genomes from over 1,100 individuals – including 333 Italian centenarians – and found a clear correlation between longevity and ancestry from Western Hunter-Gatherers (WHG).
The WHG Advantage: A 38% Increase in Longevity Odds
The study reveals that even a small increase in WHG ancestry, roughly one standard deviation, boosts the odds of reaching a 100th birthday by 38%. This finding is remarkable because it suggests that genes from a population that predates agriculture in Europe still exert a measurable influence on modern health outcomes.
Why does this matter? Human lifespan is a complex trait, but pinpointing specific genetic components has been difficult. This research shows that longevity isn’t just about modern lifestyle; it’s deeply rooted in our prehistoric past. The WHG population thrived during a period of rapid climate change, and it’s possible that genetic variants developed to survive those conditions now contribute to longer lifespans.
Contrasting Ancestries: Yamnaya and Longevity
The researchers also observed an interesting contrast: DNA from Yamnaya pastoralists – a group that arrived in Europe during the Bronze Age – showed a slight negative association with longevity in women. This suggests that some ancestral traits, while once adaptive, may no longer be beneficial in today’s environment.
The broader context: The Neolithic transition (the shift to farming) brought new pathogens, denser populations, and different lifestyles. Later ancestries may have evolved genetic adaptations to these conditions, but those adaptations could contribute to inflammaging and age-related diseases today.
The Role of Inflammation and Ancient Immunity
The study speculates that WHG ancestry may be protective due to ancient genetic variants that promote resilience against the stressors of early human life. By contrast, later populations may have developed pro-inflammatory immune responses, which were useful in the past but now contribute to chronic inflammation, a major driver of age-related decline.
“Our analyses… showed for the first time that long-lived individuals exhibit a higher affinity to WHG-related ancestry,” the researchers conclude. “We propose that the variants involved in this trait may have been introduced into the Italian gene pool at a very ancient time.”
The precise mechanisms behind this effect remain unknown, but the findings underscore that our genetic history is not just a curiosity: it actively shapes our health and lifespan in the present.
In essence, this research demonstrates that the genes we inherit from our distant ancestors can still dramatically alter the course of our lives, highlighting the profound connection between biodemographic history and contemporary health.
