A gnarledNeanderthalthumb bone recovered from a cave in France intimate that the digit ’s owner suffered from osteoarthritis ( OA ) of the left deal , and provides the first evidence for this precondition in a finger belonging to one of ourextinct cousins . analyse the souvenir ’s diseased feature , the authors of a new study suggest that the upset may have developed as a result of repeated knock and shocks keep up during regular Flint River knapping , leaving the decrepit hominid in severe pain and unable to perform daily project .
Osteoarthritisis among the most common physical ailments experienced by elderly modern human being , with digit and thumbs often buckle under to the debilitate status . grant to the study author , Neanderthals ’ short branch bones ensured that they too were highly susceptible to OA , although until now , the precondition had never been detected in the mintage ’ hands .
However , after compute tomography ( CT ) scan of the 125,000 - year - old thumb let on degenerated surface and bony lumps , the study authors concluded that the visible pathology was “ consistent with degenerative joint disease . ”
“ To date , the pathology described here is the only one known on a swinish pollex , even if OA is well known within theNeandertal population , ” they save .
Seeking an explanation for the rickety erstwhile hominin ’s condition , the researchers state that Neanderthals ’ genetical susceptibility to OA in all likelihood did n’t reach out to the hand . Other risk element such as obesity or vitamin vitamin C deficiency can also be ruled out , since Neanderthals generally stand from neither of these .
The generator therefore reason out that this particular casing of OA was potential to have been due to “ overutilization ” of the hand . “ The OA could have been aggravated by the eld of this individual and by an inflammatory reaction cause by repeated movements and intense trembling arouse by high - frequency knapping or by other use of the hands , ” they explain .
“ Other insistent activeness , like the flagellation of animal skins , may also direct to osteoarthritis , but it is difficult to mold which activity ( or body process ) could have guide to this pathology , ” proceed the researchers .
Despite their unfitness to once and for all determine the movement of the consideration , the authors say that OA in the ovolo may have provoked “ significant bother ” and “ would have made everyday tasks hard for this Neandertal mortal . ”
The study is published inThe International Journal of Paleopathology .
