General Chat

Male members of my family suffer with a condition called duptyrens contracture which is where the tendons of the hand tighten and cause the hand to curl, I saw a TV prog once that said only people of Viking descent can have this. How do they know? Cazx

My Oh and his dad suffer from that it cause lumps in their hands as well...

We had a good friend who suffered from that. unfortunately he died very suddenly when he was only 58 from ischaemic heart disease. But i don't know the answer to your question caz. Ann Glos

The incidence in northern Europe is higher than in the Mediterranean basin. In Italy there is a far higher incidence in the north than below Naples. This is consistent with the introduction of a genetic predisposition in the north-west from French and in the north-east from Austro-Hungarian invasions (Hueston, 1990a). Hueston (who worked in Melbourne) reports that despite the fact that Australia has the greatest Greek population outside Greece, he has seen only one Greek male with very mild Dupuytren's disease who on questioning revealed that his mother was Irish! An explanation of this north-west European dominance of Dupuytren's disease has been that it was in the genetic spectrum of the Celts. More likely, in view of their wide raiding patterns, it could be regarded as a Viking disease (Hueston, 1985c; Whaley et al.,1993). Medical historians have not identified any condition of the hand resembling Dupuytren's disease in exhaustive examinations of the medical writings of the Greeks and Romans (Whaley et al.; 1993). Therefore, by a process of elimination, the current prevalence of the disease in Europe dictates that the other great colonial power in recent history, i.e. the Norsemen, were responsible for its spreading. The Norse incursions on Europe in the Viking Age would have been a suitable vector for the disease.

I put this thread up ages ago Joy, Loads of threads been nudged, very odd!! Caz xxx

Nyneve I have it. I knew I would have it anyway, as all my family have it, it comes from my Grandmothers side, she came from Durham. Up to my grandmothers generation, which included all her siblings, they all had their little fingers amputated, why I don't understand! but that did release their hands at the time. OH used to hate shaking hands with them!! lol I had one lump below my index finger removed a few years ago, which released the hand. Thank goodness for progress as I only have a small scare in my hand, but I do find massage and stretching of the hand has helped. We used to take the micky out of mum, said she was 'posh' when holding the handle of a cup, but she could'nt straighten her hand if she tried!! lol Kim

Hiya Kim, It is so interesting to see this link isnt it? Caz xxx

I missed the programme tonight TW, Saw it last week, What was it about this time? Caz x

Funny this should come up after the programme on channel 4.... I think they can find out by genetic testing, they will be able to find a viking gene in those who have it.

Genetic past of East Anglian people and the Geordies. East Anglians are mostly anglo saxon (no surprises there) but with certain features, like high cheekbones, and a split chin or a dimpled chin. My paternal grandads mothers family hail from Suffolk, and my Grandad had a big Kirk Douglas Dimple in his chin. Now I know where that came from! The Geordies are also Anglo Saxon which was a surprise, as many think they must be mainly Celt or Viking!

Caz Sorry but I have never seen any threads on this before or come across anyone else you has had/ got it, besides my family. TW Never thought of myself as a Viking! Kim

Kim severl members of my paternal line have it, TW thanks for filling me in, Caz xxx

Margaret Thatcher had Dupuytrens, and any one who is old enough to remember Mary Berry, who was a famous TV cook and cookery book writer, will be saddened to know that she now has Dupuytrens so badlt that her right hand is useless. Dupuytrens is caused by a short section of genes being missing from the DNA and therefore it is an affliction which cannot be 'bred out' (should anyone wish to do such a thing!). Another disease which can give an accurate geographical location for ancestors is Huntingdon's Disease. Although it is most common in a small area around Lake Maracaibo, all cases world wide can be traced back to two sisters who emigrated from a small Suffolk village in the late 1500s to the US - they were hung as witches, as their appearance and behaviour was such that people thought they were in league with the devil. This is a disease which is caused by an excess of genetic material - the faulty gene gets repeated over and over again and depending on how many repeats you have, you either suffer from it yourself, or pass it on to your children. OC

Old Crone Duptyrens is now known as the 'Thatcher Syndrome' cause 'She' had it, they changed the name, that is what my former GP used to refer to it as. Kim

Kim Well, I suppose 'Thatcher Syndrome' is easier to say than Dupuytrens contracture, lol! Interesting that both Thatcher and Mary Berry are blue-eyed blondes - another Viking trait. OC