The Neanderthal theory of autism, Asperger's Syndrome and ADHD

[Goswin_van_Eyck]

Abstract

This theory aims at giving a credible explanation for why up to 10% in some parts of the world are classified by psychiatry as disordered. Psychiatry themselves has long been on the wrong track, and lack any coherent theory. Some other people in our society like to put all the blame on the parents, and this has caused considerable harm to many families. Recently, some researchers have shown the large amount of genes contributing to these proposed disorders, as well as providing links between virtually all disorders. It's also very clear that there doesn't exist any clear border's between various diagnosis, nor to normality.

The main problem seems to be in the area of social relations. After a closer study of the topic, it's clear that the social problems are not defects. They are simply different functions, lack of function and sometimes additional functions. The problem is how to explain this in an evolutionary model. Differences in innate, social behaviors are very big disadvantages. They can only develop in isolation. Long isolation.

All this lead me to study our history. The only isolated population in recent times, that had been isolated for a long time, was Neanderthals. Closer study of them revealed that anthropology wanted to make sure to exclude them from our gene-pool. However, the reason for this is obscure. The reasoning is only based on phylogenic analysis of mitochondria-DNA. The archeological evidence isn't conclusive, rather it indicates both species cohabitated for a long time in Europe. Evidence is also based on most alleles being more diverse in Africa. However, the more you think about it, the less sense it makes. If two species cohabitate for millennia, it's not very likely hybrids were frequent, and that in turn means mitochondria-DNA of the minority-contributor would be eliminated by genetic drift. Even worse, diversity was reduced by the last ice-age maximum, that caused dramatic movements and most probably a major bottleneck in Europe, but not in Africa.

Closer study of European origin diseases and alleles also reveals that many alleles has originated in the period when modern humans and Neanderthals lived side-by-side in Europe. The DRD4 7R allele is associated with ADHD, and a study reveals it originated at this time. Many other properties of psychiatric disorders seems to be either attributable to Neanderthals way of life, or can be seen as winter-adaptations.

The conclusion that can draw from all this, is that psychiatric disorders are no disorders or dysfunctions, rather the remains of a hybridization with Neanderthals. This should switch our current attitude from disordered to perfectly functional. It should also lead to better understanding, and new studies that will research exactly what is different.

http://www.rdos.net/eng/asperger.htm

[Dr. Solar Wolff]

This idea can easily be tested. If Neanderthal hybridization is responisble for autism, for example, then H. sapiens living outside the former Neanderthal range (who would not have hybridized with them) should have a lower instance of the disorder---right?

[Awar]

I think Neanderthals existed so far back, it would be impossible not to have at least some
ancestry from them. ( if there ever was any hybridization ).

[Graeme]

Gee, thanks! Not only is my red hair Neanderthal but my Asperger's syndrome. How about Rosacea? I get that sometimes. Don't you think it is just coincidence? Autism is not rare, so there must be a hell of a lot of Neanderthal admixture in Europeans. And what about other races in other continents?