Dupuytren’s disease (also known as “Viking’s disease”) is a disease of the connective tissue in the palms of the hands that can cause stiffness in the extremities as it progresses. Most of those affected are northern European men over the age of 50 — the cause of the DNA sequences derived from Neanderthals. A research team wants to find out.
Neanderthal genes have recently been an issue with regard to the coronavirus. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute showed at the height of the pandemic that the DNA sequence inherited from the extinct human form could influence the course of the Covid-19 disease.1 New discovery: It is precisely these genes that can increase the risk of Dupuytre’s disease, otherwise known as “Viking disease”. An international research team wants to find evidence that the mixing of our ancestors with Neanderthals was crucial to the development of various diseases.
Viking disease instead of Neanderthal disease?
The nickname “Viking disease” comes from the fact that the clinical picture mainly affects northern Europeans. It is known that the Vikings, warrior-navigators of the Middle Ages, came mainly from the northern and Baltic regions.
But it now appears as if the influence of Neanderthals in particular played a role in the development of the disease. This explains Hugo Zberg of the Stockholm Karolinska Institute in a press release from the university.2 Dupuytre’s disease is particularly rare in Africa. Presumably, Neanderthals migrated from Africa to Europe, 40,000 years ago. Early humans were dominant mainly in Europe and Western Asia. This is why the genetic material of Neanderthals can be found primarily in Northern Europe. A study conducted jointly with researchers from the University of Michigan and the Max Planck Institute is said to have shown how important the corresponding genetic variants are for Dupuytren’s disease.
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investigation path
The researchers had access to data from the UK Biobank and Michigan Genomics Initiative’s long-term study, which identified genetic risk variants for the disease. They compared the genomes, that is, the complete genetic information, of about 7,810 patients with Dupuytren’s disease with approximately 645,900 people without the disease. Details can be found in the recently published study.3
a result
The team identified 61 genetic risk factors for Dupuytren’s disease. It is clear that three of them – the second and third strongest variants – can be traced back to inheritance by Neanderthals. To the researchers, the case was clear: The fact that northern Europeans in particular suffer from something called “Viking disease” is certainly linked to their descent from Neanderthals.
Also interesting: Raynaud’s Syndrome – How Dangerous Are ‘Corpse Fingers’?
Dupuytren’s condition is benign
The discovery of Dupuytren’s disease can be distressing for sufferers. It is initially characterized by the appearance of threads, often nodules, on the palms of the hands. The limbs can become stiff over time. However, the condition does not always cause discomfort or pain. It is possible to treat the symptoms (such as radiotherapy or surgery) depending on the severity, but it is not necessary.
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