The Role of Diseases in the Extinction of Neanderthals

The extinction of Neanderthals might have been caused by diseases such as Herpes and tuberculosis. Tuberculosis was a new disease for them, which they contracted from Homo sapiens when interbreeding. They didn't have immunity against these diseases, which weakened their immune system and made it difficult to fight for food and shelter. Other factors that contributed to their extinction include local inbreeding, competition with Homo sapiens for resources, environmental fluctuations, and demographic changes. The Neanderthals also had a different immunological advantage, which we still carry in our genes today, developed during the evolution of the immune system. However, when they met modern humans, they were exposed to new diseases and lacked immunity, leading to their eventual extinction.

Health and Healing in Prehistoric Times
Neanderthals became extinct 20000-30000 years back. They are the species of
archaic human. These species were spread across Europe, Asia and Middle
East. Neanderthals had a caring feeling and strong social bond among each
other towards each other. Neanderthal was genetically different from Homo
sapiens (Present day modern human). They had different phenotype from the
modern day human. From the skeletons found it has been seen that they
looked stocky, barrel-chested and brutish. The Neanderthals health has been a
topic to study. Some of their genetics has been passed on to us. Neanderthals
originated in Africa. From there they spread to rest of the globe. They
eventually had kids with the Homo sapiens. Hence our genetic has some part
of Neanderthal genes. From this there, health can be studied. For example-
Neanderthal gene shows a better version of blood clotting genes. This was
helpful to them in healing. This helped them in gaining quick recovery after
wound and cuts which were very common in their times. They had better
chances of survival. Neanderthals are our closest relatives. Once they must
have cross breed with a human. Through genetic study on modern humans, it
has been found out that Neanderthal had DNA which caused skin cells to grow.
This is known as keratinocytes. These usually protect them from sun and
ultraviolet rays. From the there genetic study it has been found that
Neanderthal DNA has increased the risk of various life threatening factors like
stroke, miscarriage etc. Neanderthal genes were also susceptible to
depression. Also, our tendency towards tobacco addiction is also taken from
our Neanderthal cousins. We have found 12 traits in Neanderthals including
the tendency of immune issues , heart attack and other blood disorder which
is present in modern day human. Hypercoagulability is a feature of
Neanderthal blood. In this, the blood coagulates very fast. It prevents the entry
of microbes in the wound. The faster the wound closes lesser are the chances
of infection. But as this hypercoagulation was blessing in Neanderthal times, it
also causes increased risk of stroke, embolism and complicated pregnancy in
the modern age. As in those times, there was no treatment available for these
diseases Neanderthals had very lower life expectancy.
Sickle cell anaemia is a hereditary condition. It is quite possible that these
genetic conditions evolved to protect our ancestors from the worse medical

condition. It could cost them their life. This genetic condition took thousands
of years to evolve. Sickle cell anaemia is a very severe health condition which
the red blood cells took a curved crescent-like shape. This affects the oxygen
carrying capacity of the cell. This condition also protects from malaria. It was
deadly in those times. Sickle cells keep the malaria parasite out from the blood.
It does not allow the malaria parasite to survive. This condition mainly affects
people of African, Caribbean, middle eastern and Asian origin. Malaria is an
ever present danger in these geographies.
Schistosomiasis , this is also known as snail fever. This is caused by parasites
known as schistosomes. The disease is mainly caused when there is contact
with contaminated fresh water with this parasite. It is called snail fever
because these parasites are released from infected snails into the fresh water
streams. This generally causes bloody stools and diarrhoea. Like any other
race. Neanderthal also developed and hunted in the banks of the river. From
the river, they used to get food and drinkable water. As there was no concept
of water treatment in those times there were many water-borne diseases
prevalent. They used to drink this water causing them infection by this
parasite. Although Neanderthals have spread almost all parts of the world. But
this disease condition was prevalent in ones living on the banks of rivers.
Trypanosomiasis , it is the name of several diseases , it is caused by protozoa.
This is the cause of many diseases in modern human and Neanderthals. This is
caused by the bite of the tsetse fly. After that, there is the development of red
chancre sore. The person experiences fever, swollen lymph nodes and bloody
urine. This is very common on the African continent. In the next stage of this
deadly disease, there are alterations in human personality. There is a severe
effect on the biological clock. There can be seizures and also difficulty in
walking and talking. This disease was very common in Neanderthals. There is
no such prevention of this disease. It has caused many early deaths in their
race. There was no appropriate treatment of this disease. Once infected there
was no way for escape from this disease. Tsetse flies were quite common in
those days. There was one way for prevention i.e. to control the disease was
fly control. Once the population of flies has checked the disease subdued itself.

The extinction of Neanderthals might have been caused by diseases like
Herpes and tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease. It generally affects
lungs changing the physiology of the lungs. The signs and symptoms include
fever, chills, loss of appetite weight loss and bloody sputum. In the
Neanderthal Era, this disease was entirely new and surprising and they didn’t
have any way to battle with it. Once the Neanderthals migrated they got this
disease . They contracted these diseases from Homo sapiens while meeting
and mating. The Neanderthals had no immunity against these diseases.
Neanderthal was adapted to live in tropical conditions. As they migrated out
they have contacted theses diseases which are known to contribute
significantly to their extinction. These infections are known to weaken their
immune system. They were unable to fight for food and shelter hence became
extinct.
The Neanderthal had a different immunological advantage. Which we also
carry in our genes today. During evolution, the efficient defence system in us
has developed. In this, the pathogens are recognised by our immune systems
and destroyed. The human leukocyte antigen system evaluates whether the
entered pathogen is a friend or foe. This pathogen system is a result of
development in Neanderthal Era in which they were exposed to many threats
and environment conditions. This provided Neanderthal immunity against
many pathogens. This was the evolutionary advantages they had from their
ancestors.
The Neanderthal population eventually spread out and became fragment. They
were attacked by much new disease. They didn’t have much immunity for
these. The cause of extinction varied from one situation to another. The
extinction process might have been due to many factors such as local
inbreeding and strong competition from the Homo sapiens for food and
shelter. The effect of environment fluctuation and changing demographic
conditions also played a crucial role in the extinction of Neanderthals. There
were no severe climate shifts in this era. If the records are checked there is no
evidence of climate shift. Also for a global extinction, there is required a major

climate shift whose evidence is not found. As Neanderthals met the modern
day Homo sapiens they were contacted with many new diseases. With new
unexplored geographic conditions, there were insufficient resources which did
not allow them to become immune. There was very strong competition for
food and other resources. The Neanderthal became the genetically weaker
species to adjust to the new developments hence got swapped away. There
were also many cultural and behavioral differences existed between
Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. The Homo sapiens could adapt themselves
better to the culture and technology. Technological changes did not favour
Neanderthals. For Neanderthals, nature and the landscape played a very
crucial role in their extinction. As they moved out of African continent the
world became a cooler place for them. They might not be able to adapt to
these conditions. The living conditions became very challenging for them. The
world became a very competitive place for them with a new set of diseases
and introduction of the new gene pool of Homo sapiens. Modern day human
genes have many genetic influences by Neanderthals. This shows
crossbreeding happened at many stages in the world. The current day human
brain shows many similarities with the Neanderthal brain. Genetic mapping
has found that 1%-2% of our genetics still contain Neanderthal influences.
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