The possible cause of why humanity suffers from headaches has been revealed

Researchers have found that some cases of headaches in modern humans may be linked to the genetic heritage of Neanderthals, writes the Daily Mail.

According to a new study published in the journal Evolution, Medicine and Public Health, genes from ancient hominids may contribute to the development of a rare brain defect known as Chiari malformation, which causes discomfort and pain in the head in some patients.

Chiari malformation occurs when the lower part of the brain - the cerebellum - partially protrudes into the skull opening where the spinal cord begins. This happens due to an irregular skull shape and affects approximately one in a hundred people. For most, it manifests as headaches and neck pain, but in severe cases, serious neurological symptoms can develop.

Previously, it was thought that such anatomical features could have arisen as a result of evolutionary changes or random mutations. However, the new study suggests that these traits may have been inherited from Neanderthals.

A team of scientists led by Dr. Kimberly Plomp compared three-dimensional models of skulls of modern humans - both with and without the diagnosis - with skulls of ancient hominids: Homo erectus, Homo heidelbergensis, and Homo neanderthalensis. It turned out that the skull shape in people with Chiari malformation is most similar to Neanderthal skulls.

This suggests that genes responsible for skull development in Neanderthals may have been preserved in the modern human genome due to interbreeding between species. However, in combination with other Homo sapiens genes, they began to cause developmental pathologies.

Scientists estimate that up to 45% of the Neanderthal genome has been preserved in the modern human population, although the distribution of these genes varies by region. For example, East Asian populations have up to 4% Neanderthal genes, while many Africans have virtually none.