The Ancient History of Human Diseases Revealed

As scientists seek insights for future pandemics, an extensive new genetic study reveals the evolution of human diseases through ancient remains, providing a better understanding of historical health crises.

In an effort to glean insights for anticipating future pandemics, scientists are revisiting humanity's past health crises. Throughout the last century, numerous pathogens, including H.I.V., Zika virus, and SARS-CoV-2, have emerged on the global stage. The historical account of these diseases, however, can grow increasingly obscure the further back researchers trace. For instance, the plague that afflicted Athens around 430 B.C., detailed by ancient chronicler Thucydides, remains a mystery; despite his striking descriptions of symptoms, including "inward parts, such as the throat or tongue, becoming bloody," the exact pathogen responsible is still unknown.

Advancements in genetic research over the past few decades have enabled scientists to resurrect clues about ancient pathogens, using DNA traces left in human skeletons. This quest has accelerated recently, culminating in a novel genetic chronicle detailing the emergence of 214 diseases across Europe and Asia spanning the last 37,000 years.

The findings were shared by a team of scientists on Wednesday, who analyzed remains from 1,313 ancient individuals in a groundbreaking study. "The paper is large and sweeping and overall pretty cool," remarked Hendrik Poinar, an ancient DNA expert from McMaster University in Canada, who was not affiliated with the research.

The comprehensive scale of this project not only sheds light on the earliest known occurrences of various diseases but also tracks their ebb and flow over millennia. The oldest remains examined by the researchers belonged to ancient hunter-gatherers, whose bones and teeth contained evidence of pathogens, including hepatitis B, herpes virus, and Helicobacter pylori, an intestinal bacterium. This innovative study offers a significant contribution to our understanding of the historical prevalence of diseases, highlighting humanity's enduring struggle against ailments that have shaped civilizations for thousands of years.