We all contain ancient DNA, we all come from a set of people that evolved, saying people with ASD socialize like Neanderthals is problematic because phrasing it like that implies they haven't evolved past their ancient roots.
Just because we're detecting Neanderthal DNA at higher rates in people diagnosed with ASD, doesn't mean they're unevolved, autism is a different brain structure, a different way of viewing and experiencing the world.
The double empathy problem is just that both very different neurotypes, don't understand each other's unique way of feeling, seeing and experiencing the world, it's essentially a communication issue.
That communication issue is relative to the fact that autism, while it has existed since the dawn of people, as this study is seeking to delve deeper into, is only relatively newly discovered, as a diagnosable existing neurotype. And if you add onto that the fact our current rates of diagnosis only serve Caucasian boys, that becomes even further problematic for recognition, and communication. Women, and people of colour are just starting to become included and aren't adequately included. They are currently not in the dsm5.
For the double empathy problem to not exist, we would have to understand and respect both neurotypes and provide the space and needs both require. Currently we only do that for one neurotype. And as a society we aren't even, yet, capable of adequately, expansively or comprehensively, diagnosing all individuals who have the asd neurotype. Essentially we as a society are only set up to provide for one neurotype.
Let me explain it like this, two types of imaginary people have to exist together, all of one type walk and breathe air, all of the other type, swim and breathe water, currently our society, in this thought experiment, is set up for the walkers, and the swimmers struggle to breathe or even get around in this environment. There shouldn't be a world where those swimmers are told to suck it up, as is reflective of our current society. The swimmers shouldn't be expected to evolve to breathe air and walk on land, equal space and provisions should be made for both. In an evolved society, that's the direction we would go.
So implying their Neanderthal DNA is why they can't socialise, is also problematic because saying they need to catch up to "us" and learn "our" ways. That's the opposite direction for resolving the double empathy problem.
People with ASD can't and shouldn't be expected to exist in an environment that doesn't provide for their basic needs. It's hard to see how cruel and uninclusive that is, without including the lived experiences of people with ASD. I would argue, in all due respect, that if anything is unevolved, it's that current societal expectation. Because that is what is currently being done to people with ASD. Specialists are engaged to, essentially, help them cope with conforming. But it's not a changeable thing, it doesn't stop their brain perceiving the world in the way it does, it just forces them to shove the pain down till they burn out and can't function. But that could, arguably be blamed on capitalism.
So to end my point I say, the answer is eat the rich.
