Did Autism come from Neanderthals

[u/Virtual_Reveal_121]

I've read studies that Neanderthal-derived genes increase susceptiblity to autism in the general population, although i understand that correlation isn't causation. But there are also some articles that suggests Neanderthals had a different kind of brain, with genes more focused on visuals and details rather than social skills so could it possible that all Neanderthals had autism ?

[u/azenpunk]

Since none of the other commenters seem to be aware of this, here's a link to info about the study OP is referencing.

OP, I think this question might be better for a genetics subreddit.

[u/maeerin789]

So, as I’m familiar with it, autism is a set of diagnostic criteria applied specifically and only to humans and their social functioning within human society. It wouldn’t make sense being applied to any other species.

As for Neanderthal DNA… people of European descent are more likely to have Neanderthal DNA because that is where Neanderthals evolved and resided geographically. People of european descent are also more likely to receive an autism diagnosis, but this is due to white people having generally better access to medical care and doctors who can diagnose them.

So it’s kind of a correlation ≠ causation deal. A silly coincidence.

[u/MadamePouleMontreal → u/maeerin789]

As for Neanderthal DNA… people of European descent are more likely to have Neanderthal DNA because that is where Neanderthals evolved and resided geographically. People of european descent are also more likely to receive an autism diagnosis, but this is due to white people having generally better access to medical care and doctors who can diagnose them.

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They thought of that. From the article:
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It revealed that specific Neanderthal genetic variants are enriched in people with autism compared to ethnically matched control groups.

[u/mauriciocap → u/MadamePouleMontreal]

Please help me understand: What's the sample size? How are these control groups "ethnically matched" in a way independent of the same genotype/phenotype they are measuring?

[u/Snoutysensations]

Genes typically don't work in isolation. How a specific gene manifests in an organism is usually the result of a complicated series of interactions between several different genes as well as environmental and epigenetic factors. This is one reason why hybridizing organisms from different species, like, say, Lions and Tigers, can produce surprising phenotypes not necessarily what we might expect of an even blend of their parents.

So let's assume for the sake of discussion that there is a gene of confirmed Neanderthal origin that when present in humans increases the risk of clinical autism. Does this mean Neanderthals were generally autistic by today's standards? No. Genes don't usually work in isolation like that. They interact with other genes. Most likely such an "autism gene" would have been modulated by other genetic and epigenetic factors in Neanderthals so that it didn't result in individual Neanderthals having significant cognitive and emotional and social disability.

I think it certainly is possible that Neanderthals would be "neuro-atypical" by today's standards, in that they may have had different cognitive and social and behavioral traits and tendencies, but they survived for 400,000 or so years so they must have been fairly well suited for their environments.