A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal
Buried Treasure? Overlooked and Newly Discovered Evolutionary Contributions to Human Brain Diseases
Authors: Diederich, Nico J.; Brüne, Martin; Allen, John S.; Bender, Nicole; Bruner, Emiliano; Changeux, Jean‐Pierre; Cali, Corrado; Dolgova, Olga; Grünewald, Anne; Konopka, Geneviève; Jin, Peng; Lemon, Roger; Levy, Gilberto; Magistretti, Pierre; Rantala, Markus J.; Rockland, Kathleen S.; Sullivan, Roger; Swanepoel, Annie; Uchihara, Toshiki; Amunts, Katrin; Goetz, Christopher G.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Publication year: 2025
Journal:: Annals of Neurology
ISSN: 0364-5134
eISSN: 1531-8249
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.78030
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.78030
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/500507479
Clinical neuroscience focuses on the mechanisms of brain function, but this approach falls short of insights into how the central nervous system (CNS) evolved, both in health and disease. Here, we discuss evolutionary concepts relevant to understanding human brain diseases, on the genetic, subcellular, cellular, connectomic, behavioral, and cultural levels. By revisiting common neurological diseases, we discuss evolved residues from our ancestors, mechanisms of exaptation, antagonistic pleiotropy, and human longevity with the consequent outpacing of biological evolution by cultural evolution. An evolution-based conceptual framework can propel transdisciplinary research targeting the constraints imposed by and compensatory adaptations involved in human-specific neurological diseases.
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Funding information in the publication:
KA acknowledges the funding support from the European Union's Horizon Europe Program, grant agreement 101147319 (EBRAINS 2.0 Project).
