A groundbreaking new study suggests that the remarkable longevity of some Italians may be written in their ancient genes, inherited from hunter-gatherers who survived the last Ice Age.
The Genetic Secret of Italy's Centenarians
Scientists have discovered that Italian centenarians possess a significantly higher proportion of DNA from Western Hunter-Gatherers (WHG) compared to the general population. This finding, published in the journal GeroScience, offers a compelling clue to why Italy boasts one of the world's highest concentrations of people living beyond 100 years.
The research team, whose work was reported on Thursday 18 December 2025, conducted a detailed genetic analysis. They examined the genomes of over 300 centenarians and nearly 700 healthy adults aged around 50. These modern DNA profiles were then compared against the ancient genomes of the four primary ancestral groups that contributed to the modern Italian population.
Ancestral Groups in the Italian Gene Pool
The study focused on descendants of four key ancient populations:
- Western Hunter-Gatherers (WHG): The original inhabitants of Europe after the Ice Age.
- Anatolian Neolithic farmers.
- Bronze Age nomadic groups.
- Ancient populations from the Iranian and Caucasus regions.
While modern Italians carry a mixture of DNA from all these groups, the results were striking. Only the genetic material from the Western Hunter-Gatherer lineage showed a clear statistical link to extreme longevity. The study found that with every small increase in this specific ancient DNA, an individual's chance of becoming a centenarian rose by a remarkable 38 per cent.
Ice Age Survival Traits for Modern Ageing
Researchers propose that the genetic variants favouring long life were likely introduced into the Italian gene pool in deep antiquity. They suspect these genes were strongly favoured by natural selection during the harsh conditions of the last Ice Age, a period of extreme cold and scarce food resources.
"We propose that the variants involved in this trait [longevity] may have been introduced into the Italian gene pool at a very ancient time," the scientists wrote. They theorise that genes which once helped our ancestors metabolise food more efficiently and withstand immense physiological stress are now providing a protective effect against the ravages of ageing.
The study also revealed a significant gender disparity. Women with a higher proportion of this ancient hunter-gatherer DNA were more than twice as likely to reach 100 years of age compared to men with similar genetic heritage.
"We showed a greater contribution from Western Hunter-Gatherer-related ancestry to Italian centenarians," the researchers concluded. This suggests that this pre-Neolithic genetic component, shaped by population shifts after the Last Glacial Maximum, continues to confer a benefit for human longevity in the modern era.
This research moves beyond previous understanding, which acknowledged that a combination of "good" genes, environment, and daily habits contributes to long life. It pinpoints a specific ancestral source for these advantageous genes, opening new avenues for understanding the biological mechanisms of healthy ageing.
