Two Different Mismatches: Integrating the Developmental and the Evolutionary-Mismatch Hypothesis.

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary psychology
• Evolutionary medicine
• Human origins of disease

Background:

• Disease etiology is explored through evolutionary psychology.
• Several theories explain disease origins: developmental mismatch, evolutionary mismatch, and differential susceptibility.
• Individual genetic and epigenetic variations influence disease susceptibility.

Approach:

• Review of empirical studies substantiating developmental mismatch, evolutionary mismatch, and differential susceptibility theories.
• Analysis of how environmental factors interact with individual differences in disease development.
• Integration of disparate theories into a unified evolutionary framework for understanding disease.

Key Points:

• Developmental mismatch: Discrepancies between early-life and adult environments can lead to disease.
• Evolutionary mismatch: Mismatch between ancestral adaptations and modern environments contributes to disease.
• Differential susceptibility: Genetic and epigenetic factors mediate individual responses to environmental influences, affecting disease risk.

Conclusions:

• An integrated evolutionary theory provides a more accurate understanding of disease.
• Understanding disease requires considering evolutionary pressures, environmental changes, and individual variability.
• Future research should focus on unifying these perspectives for a holistic view of disease origins.