A ring finger locked in a bent position as seen in Dupuytren's disease, colloquially known as the "Viking disease."
Newswise — According to a recent publication in Molecular Biology and Evolution, a scientific journal published by Oxford University Press, research indicates that Dupuytren's disease has a significant association with Neanderthal ancestry. Previous studies have consistently observed a higher prevalence of this condition among individuals of Northern European descent compared to those with African ancestry.
Dupuytren's ailment affects the hand, causing permanent bending in a flexed posture. Although any finger can be affected, the ring and middle fingers are commonly involved. Various risk factors for this condition have been identified, such as age, alcohol use, diabetes, and genetic predisposition. A 1999 Danish study revealed an 80% heritability rate, indicating a significant genetic impact. It is more prevalent in individuals of Northern European origin. Among Norwegians aged 60 or older, the prevalence of Dupuytren's disease was estimated to be up to 30%. Conversely, the condition is rare among individuals of primarily African descent. This geographical pattern has earned the disease the nickname "Viking ailment."
Geographic variances exist in the genetic ancestry connecting modern humans to extinct groups. Individuals from Sub-Saharan Africa possess minimal genetic heritage from Neanderthals or Denisovans, who inhabited Europe and Asia until approximately 42,000 years ago. Conversely, individuals with non-African origins inherited up to 2% of their genome from Neanderthals, and certain Asian populations today can exhibit up to 5% Denisovan ancestry. Due to these regional distinctions, ancient gene variants can play a role in specific population-specific characteristics or diseases.
Researchers in Europe conducted a genetic investigation to explore the origins of Dupuytren's disease, considering its high prevalence among Europeans. They utilized data from the UK Biobank, the FinnGen R7 collection, and the Michigan Genomics Initiative, encompassing 7,871 cases and 645,880 controls. Their objective was to identify genetic variants associated with the risk of Dupuytren's disease. The study identified 61 variants that showed significant associations with the disease on a genome-wide level. Notably, three of these variants were determined to have Neanderthal origins, including the second and third most strongly associated variants. This discovery, highlighting the presence of important genetic risk factors for Dupuytren's disease that originated from Neanderthals, led the scientists to conclude that Neanderthal ancestry plays a significant role in explaining the disease's prevalence in Europe today.
"This is a case where the encounter with Neanderthals has influenced the affected individuals' susceptibility to illness," stated Hugo Zeberg, the lead author of the paper. However, Zeberg also cautioned against overemphasizing the link between Neanderthals and Vikings.
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