The Impact of Pandemics on Human Immunity: A Evolutionary Perspective

Researchers studying the genomes of Europeans from the Neolithic period to the present day have found that genetic variants linked to immunity have increased in frequency over the last 4,500 years, suggesting a strong impact of pathogens on human evolution. However, these protective variants also raise the risk of autoimmune diseases. The study highlights a trade-off between survival and susceptibility to autoimmune disorders, indicating that genes enabling survival of past epidemics may have significant downsides. Understanding these variants could lead to new ways to tackle autoimmune diseases and influence immunity.