"Neanderthal Ancestry Linked to 'Viking Disease' Hand Condition"
A new study suggests that Dupuytren's contracture, also known as "Viking Disease", which causes deformities in the hand, is more common in Northern Europeans with Neanderthal ancestry. The condition is caused by the thickening of tissue under the skin of the hand, leaving one or more fingers in a permanently bent position. Although the exact causes are unknown, scientists have identified several risk factors that influence its development. The study used data from 653,751 people and found that three of the 61 genome-wide significant variations associated with Dupuytren's contracture were Neanderthal in origin, leading researchers to conclude that Neanderthal ancestry is a significant factor in the prevalence of the condition in Europeans today.