
The Impact of Extinct Human Species on Modern Mental Health
A new study suggests that genes inherited from interbreeding with an extinct human species, the Denisovans, have had a lasting impact on our mental health. Researchers found that a genetic adaptation involved in zinc regulation, inherited from the Denisovans, may have helped early humans adapt to colder climates but also predisposed them to depression and other mental disorders. This adaptation is widespread in modern human populations outside of Africa. The study highlights the complex relationship between genetics and mental health and calls for further research to understand the susceptibility to mental illnesses associated with these genes.


