A valuable legacy: centenarians have been found to have more DNA from hunter-gatherers.

According to a new study by geneticists at the University of Bologna, the secret to living to 100 years old may lie in having more from hunter-gatherers.
The team analyzed the genomes of over 1,000 Italians, 333 of whom lived to be 100 years or older. They compared these genomes with those of prehistoric groups, including Bronze Age herders and Neolithic farmers from the Near East.
The analysis revealed that modern centenarians had a higher prevalence of associated with Mesolithic Western European hunter-gatherers. This ancient group lived in Europe 14,000 to 9,000 years ago, after the Ice Age, and was known for their dark skin, light eyes, and robust physique.
In a warming climate, this group focused on gathering roots and hazelnuts, as well as hunting deer.
“Our analysis is the first to show that long-lived individuals exhibit greater genetic affinity with Western European hunter-gatherers,” the team wrote in the journal GeroScience. The researchers believe this “pre-Neolithic genetic component contributes to longevity today.”
The researchers also noted that people who have already reached the age of 100 showed significantly more mutations linked to the hunter-gatherer era. Meanwhile, no other genetic factors were likely associated with longevity.
As the scientists pointed out, the mechanisms underlying these findings need further investigation, as it remains unclear how exactly this DNA influences lifespan.
Hunting and gathering played a crucial role in human history, and according to existing data, this practice has been around for two million years. Before this lifestyle became dominant, early humans primarily fed on leftovers from predators and gathered wild plants, insects, and honey.
Hunter-gatherer communities typically varied in size from small family units to larger groups of around 100 individuals. In search of food, they often moved around, as reported by Daily Mail.
Despite the widespread transition to agriculture about 12,000 years ago, many hunter-gatherer behaviors have persisted to this day. Just 500 years ago, hunter-gatherers still lived in some parts of Europe and across the Americas.
Since then, their numbers have significantly declined. Today, very few remain, with one such group being the Hadza people in Tanzania.
Recent scientific advancements have contributed to more people living to 100 than ever before.

Jeanne Louise Calment
The title of the oldest person ever to live belongs to Frenchwoman Jeanne Louise Calment, who lived for 122 years and 164 days.
Scientific evidence shows that an active lifestyle (even just daily walks) contributes to longevity. Studies have also indicated that social interaction similarly affects a person’s lifespan, while loneliness can be toxic and shorten it.
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