Neanderthal Genes Were the Reason for Severe COVID-19 Syndrome, Study Finds

Health

Neanderthal Genes and Severe

In a groundbreaking discovery, Italian scientists have uncovered a connection between our ancient Neanderthal ancestors and the severity of COVID-19

COVID-19

The Study

Published in the Journal iScience, the study involved 1,200 volunteers from the Bergamo province, one of the hardest-hit regions during the early days of the pandemic.

Neanderthal Haplotype

Researchers identified the "Neanderthal Haplotype" a set of genetic variants shared with our ancient ancestors, as a significant risk factor for severe COVID-19.

Increased Risk

Individuals carrying the Neanderthal haplotype faced double the risk of severe pneumonia and were three times more likely to require ICU ventilation.

Past Research

This discovery builds upon previous studies linking Neanderthal DNA to various health conditions, including Dupuytren's disease and cytokine storms in COVID-19 patients.