Neurodiversity: Not a Modern Phenomenon but an Evolutionary Strength

We often think of neurodiversity, autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurological differences, as something new, something we’ve only recently begun to understand.

But what if these ways of thinking, processing, and experiencing the world aren’t modern anomalies at all, but deeply rooted parts of our evolutionary story?

From an evolutionary perspective, there’s a compelling argument that neurodivergence isn’t a random occurrence, it’s part of how humans have survived and thrived.

Over thousands of years, as our societies became more complex and interconnected, our brains evolved to meet different needs. Neurodivergent traits may have emerged, and persisted, because they offered real advantages to our ancestors.

The Strengths of Different Minds

Take autism, for example. Individuals with autism might have been the exceptional toolmakers, analysts, and planners of early human communities, people whose intense focus and attention to detail helped their tribes build, hunt, and survive. Their ability to notice subtle changes in the environment or patterns others missed would have been invaluable.

Likewise, ADHD traits, which are often misunderstood as restlessness or inattention in modern society, may once have been lifesaving.

The “nomadic hypothesis,” proposed by Hartmann in 1993, suggests that the alertness, quick decision-making, and curiosity linked with ADHD were perfectly adapted for early human life. When our ancestors needed to spot danger, locate food, or adapt to shifting conditions, the people who could think fast and switch focus quickly were vital to the group’s survival.

Impulsivity and hyper-awareness, often seen as challenges in structured modern environments, could once have meant the difference between life and death. The same traits that make focusing on spreadsheets difficult today may have helped ancient humans thrive in unpredictable environments.

Our Brains Were Built for Diversity

From a tribal perspective, diversity of thought wasn’t a disadvantage, it was a strength. Communities needed people who could plan meticulously, others who could think on their feet, and others who could sense threats or opportunities in an instant. Having a mix of cognitive styles allowed groups to adapt, innovate, and survive.

And while science hasn’t identified a single “neurodiversity gene,” research shows that autism and ADHD are highly heritable, they run in families.

But genes don’t tell the whole story.

Epigenetics, the study of how environment influences gene expression, shows that our early experiences, nutrition, and surroundings can shape how our brains develop and how neurodivergence is expressed.

A Celebration of Human Variation

In essence, neurodiversity is woven into the fabric of human evolution. It’s not a flaw or a disorder, it’s part of what makes us human. The traits that challenge us in one context may have been the very traits that carried our species forward in another.

Understanding this changes everything. It reminds us that neurodivergence isn’t new, it’s ancient.

It’s not about deficit, it’s about difference.

And when we recognise that difference as a reflection of our shared evolutionary brilliance, we can build events, workplaces, schools, and communities that don’t just accommodate neurodiversity, but truly celebrate it.