New research reveals that some traits associated with autism may trace back to our ancient relatives—Neanderthals. A study published in Molecular Psychiatry suggests that specific Neanderthal DNA variants, inherited through interbreeding with Homo sapiens over 50,000 years ago, appear more frequently in individuals with autism.Rather than linking autism to a higher amount of Neanderthal DNA overall, scientists identified particular genetic snippets involved in brain connectivity, especially between regions linked to visual processing and social reflection. MRI scans confirmed the effect: people carrying these variants—autistic or not—showed enhanced visual activity and less activation in social-related brain networks.These findings hint that Neanderthal traits like keen pattern recognition, intense focus, and stepwise motor planning—once useful for survival and tool-making—may echo in some modern cognitive profiles. Researchers emphasize this does not mean Neanderthal DNA “causes” autism, but that it contributes to the diversity of cognitive traits seen in humans today.RESEARCH PAPER 📄Rini Pauly et al, “Enrichment of a subset of Neanderthal polymorphisms in autistic probands and siblings.” Molecular Psychiatry (2024)
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