Evolutionary medicine
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Our understanding of the process of evolution offers a novel way of approaching medical issues. This perspective has been referred to as either ‘evolutionary medicine’ or ‘Darwinian medicine’. Briefly, humans, as well as any other species, are designed by evolution to live in particular environments. In other words, we thrive best under certain conditions as to a variety of environmental factors, including social and nutritional. Differences between the Stone Age environment we are adapted to and the industrialized environment of today are referred to as mismatches. While many mismatches may have a positive impact on health and quality of life, some are expected to have a negative impact. The latter are referred to as ‘discords’.
Darwinian medicine will advocate that we may improve health by avoiding discords. However, what constitutes discords in modern environments is far from obvious. Thus, the evolutionary perspective offers an approach as to how to find causes of medical problems; and may consequently help us suggest preventive measures. Furthermore, by taking the nature of the human body and mind as a starting point, this perspective also opens a novel way of understanding what medical problems are all about.
Several books, including Nesse and Williams “Why we get sick: The new science of Darwinian medicine”, and Trevathan, smith and McKenna “Evolutionary medicine”, offer further information.