Stone Age Man Had Very Modern Disease
Tuesday, August 5th, 2014August 5, 2014.
European scientists were surprised to find that the preserved and frozen body of a Stone Age man showed evidence of what is normally thought to be a very modern malady—cardiovascular disease. This discovery, by Albert Zink from the European Academy of Bolzano, Italy, resulted from his studies of the Iceman, nicknamed Ötzi, who was discovered in the Italian Alps in 1991. Zink’s findings suggest that cardiovascular disease may not be just the unfortunate by-product of our modern diet and couch-potato lifestyle, but may have plagued humankind since ancient times.
Ötzi was discovered by hikers in an area called Otztaler, which lies east of the Inn River along the borders of Italy and Austria. At first, authorities believed the body was the victim of a crime or an accident. After closer examination, however, they discovered the body was actually more than 5,000 years old. This discovery has provided archaeologists and other scientists with many insights into life in prehistoric Europe before the Bronze Age. Scientists have learned many things by examining the preserved body of the Iceman and the remains of clothing and tools that were found with him.
Initial medical examination revealed that Ötzi likely suffered from joint pain, Lyme disease, and tooth decay. But computed tomography (CT) scanning also revealed calcium buildups, a sign of atherosclerosis—narrowing of the arteries from fatty deposits, in several major blood vessels, including the aorta (the main blood-carrying vessel from the heart) and the carotid arteries of the neck. The advanced degree of cardiovascular disease present was surprising since Ötzi certainly had a physically active lifestyle and a diet absent the heart-harming high-fat processed foods and added sugars typical of modern civilization.
A more detailed study of Ötzi’s genome revealed that he possessed several gene variations that medical researchers know to be associated with cardiovascular disease. These small genetic variations, called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP’s), do not cause diseases themselves. However, patterns of SNP’s can help determine if a person’s genetic makeup predisposes that person to develop a particular disease. One particular SNP that Ötzi possessed on the ninth chromosome is strongly correlated with the development of heart disease.
Such finding explain how a Stone Age man could have suffered from such a modern malady as atherosclerosis. The finding also suggest that many people today may develop cardiovascular disease in spite of a healthy diet and lifestyle because, like Ötzi, they are genetically predisposed to the condition.
Additional World Book articles:
Archaeology 2001 (a Back in Time article)
Tales from the Crypt (a special report)