The first case of Down syndrome among Neanderthals was found in a six-year-old child: he lived more than 145,000 years ago. Photo

Scientists have announced that they have discovered the first case of Down syndrome in Neanderthals, suggesting that archaic humans were compassionate caregivers. The team analyzed a small fragment of the skull of a six-year-old child named Tina, who lived more than 1450,000 years ago, finding that the fossil has features typical of children with the genetic disorder.

The analysis showed that Tina suffered from a congenital inner ear disorder that is associated with a genetic disorder and likely caused severe hearing loss and vertigo, leading to disability, MailOnline reports.

The discovery suggests that Neanderthals were able to provide altruistic care and support for a vulnerable member of their social group, as the child survived years after birth.

"Until now, it has only been possible to diagnose Down syndrome in fossil samples by analyzing ancient DNA. In our work, we were able to diagnose it through an anatomical examination of the inner ear. This opens up the possibility of studying the potential presence of Down syndrome in fossil specimens and thus being able to document its prevalence in past populations," commented Dr. Mercedes Conde-Valverde, professor at the University of Alcalá.

The fossils were found in the Cova Negra cave in Valencia, which was excavated from 1929 to 2017. Researchers recently analyzed the remains found during the 1989 excavation, discovering three new fossils that had not been previously seen. Among the three was an "immature temporal bone (CN-46700)," according to a study published in Science Advances.

It was a fragment of one of the two temporal bones that form the sides and base of the skull, protecting the brain and surrounding the ear canal. The researchers used micro-CT on the fossil, a 3D imaging technique that uses X-rays to see the inside of an object, slice by slice.

A digital scan of the specimen showed a combination of inner ear abnormalities consistent with Down syndrome.

"The pathology suffered by this child has resulted in disabilities, including at least total deafness, severe attacks of dizziness, and an inability to maintain balance. Given these symptoms, it is highly unlikely that the mother herself could provide all the necessary care while also taking care of her own needs. Therefore, for Tina to live at least six years, the group would have to continuously assist the mother by replacing her in caring for the child or helping her with her daily tasks, or both," explained Dr. Conde-Valverde.

Previous evidence that Neanderthals cared for their sick and injured has sparked debate about whether this was motivated by mere expectation of reciprocal behavior or genuine compassion.

"It has been known for decades that Neanderthals cared for their vulnerable companions. However, all known cases of care concerned adults, which led some scientists to believe that such behavior was not true altruism, but simply an exchange of help between equals: today I am for you, and tomorrow you are for me," the expert says.

However, this discovery confirms the existence of true altruism among Neanderthals, as the child could not provide help in return, but only received it from her mother and other residents.

Tina's age at death, based on the maturation of certain structures of the inner ear, showed unusual longevity for a child in such circumstances with a condition known as intellectual disability and developmental delay.

"Tina's discovery is the earliest known case of Down syndrome and demonstrates that the diversity seen in modern humans existed in prehistoric times. This discovery ensures that the history of human evolution includes us all," the scientist says.

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