People who live to 100 years and beyond may owe their longevity not only to lifestyle but also to the legacy of ancient ancestors, according to researchers studying the genomes of Italian centenarians. The study was published in GeroScience.

The scientists analyzed the DNA of 333 Italians aged 100 and older and compared it with genetic data from 690 healthy adults around 50 years old. They then compared these data with 103 ancient genomes representing four main groups that contributed to the modern Italian gene pool: Western Hunter-Gatherers (WHG), Neolithic farmers from Anatolia, Bronze Age nomads, and ancient populations from Iran and the Caucasus.

The analysis revealed that centenarians had a significantly higher proportion of genetic heritage from Western Hunter-Gatherers—the earliest European inhabitants after the last Ice Age. Contributions from the other ancient populations were not associated with the likelihood of reaching extreme age.

The researchers estimated that even a small increase in hunter-gatherer DNA raised the chances of living to 100 by approximately 38%. This effect was particularly pronounced in women: those with a high proportion of this genetic component had more than twice the likelihood of becoming a centenarian.

The authors emphasized that longevity is determined by a combination of genetics, environment, and lifestyle. However, the findings suggest that the contribution of ancient evolutionary heritage to lifespan may be much greater than previously thought.