Genetic Mutations Raised Ancient Iceman's Heart Disease Risk

Ötzi, the iceman that lived 5,000 years ago in the Alps, was genetically predisposed to heart disease, a new study finds.

Ötzi was discovered in the year 1991 and several studies, since then, have been conducted on him. Researchers have tried to piece together his diet, the diseases that he suffered from and how he died through extensive genetic analysis.

The study explains why the ancient iceman had hardened arteries when he died. The gene that predisposes humans to heart disease hasn't changed much, HealthDay reported.

"We were very surprised that he had a very strong disposition for cardiovascular disease," said study co-author Albert Zink, a paleopathologist at the Institute for Mummies and the Iceman at the European Academy of Bozen/Bolzano in Italy, according to Livescience. "We didn't expect that people who lived so long ago already had the genetic setup for getting such kinds of diseases."

In 2012, scientists had found that Ötzi was at high risk of heart disease. They had also found that the iceman had several symptoms of heart disease despite following a healthy lifestyle. The discovery of a genetic risk factor for heart disease in this ancient mummy has shown that modern lifestyle alone isn't linked to heart disease.

Other research has found that the iceman suffered from joint pain, Lyme disease and tooth decay, Discovery News reported. Computed tomography (CT) revealed that Ötzi had calcium buildup in his arteries, which is a classic sign of heart disease.

In the present study, researchers found that the ancient iceman had several genetic factors that increased his chances of heart disease. He had mutations in the ninth chromosome, which is strongly linked to heart problems, Livescience reported.

"He didn't smoke; he was very active; he walked a lot; he was not obese," Zink told Livescience. "But nevertheless, he already developed some atherosclerosis."

The study is published in the journal Global Heart.

Research has also shown that the frozen mummy suffered from physical abnormalities.