Europeans' ancient ancestors passed down genes tied to multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's risk

Major migrations of ancient human populations into Europe over the past 45,000 years and the selection of their genes over time have shaped disease risk in present-day individuals, according to new research. (Image credit: SayoStudio)

Migrations of ancient humans in Eurasia may have impacted modern Europeans' risk of developing a variety of diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.

That's according to two new papers published Wednesday (Jan. 10) in the journal Nature. Along with two other articles from the same researchers, the papers include analyses of DNA from the bones and teeth of hundreds of ancient individuals, the oldest of whom date to the Mesolithic period, or Middle Stone Age. The scientists compared these people's DNA to the genomes of present-day Europeans.