Italian Scientists Link Longevity to Ice Age Hunter-Gatherer DNA
A team of Italian scientists has discovered a connection between the exceptional longevity of some individuals, known as super-agers, and inherited DNA from Ice Age hunter-gatherer populations in Europe. The study, led by Prof. Cristina Giuliani from the University of Bologna, analyzed the DNA of 333 centenarians and 690 controls, comparing them with 103 ancient genomes. The research found that centenarians carried more Western Hunter-Gatherer variants, which are small DNA changes that can alter protein signals at several longevity-linked spots. This suggests that specific biological factors, possibly inherited from ancient populations, contribute to longevity. The study highlights the role of ancient genetic components in the longevity phenotype, although further lab experiments are needed to understand how these variants influence metabolism, immunity, or repair.