Reading the future in the lines of your hands isn’t something that appeals to you? That’s good, your handcuffs can also serve as an indicator regarding your drinking habits. They won’t tell you how many drinks you can have, but the length of your fingers might tell you a secret from before you were born.
A study published on November 11, 2024, relayed by Study Findsindicates that the ratio of the length of your index finger to that of your ring finger can reveal how much alcohol you are likely to consume. Scientists call this the “Manning index” (or “2D:4D index”, 2D corresponding to the length of the index finger and 4D of the ring finger).
This surprising ratio arises from the amount of testosterone and estrogen we were exposed to in the womb. People who were exposed to high levels of testosterone before birth generally have a low 2D:4D index. In other words, their ring finger is longer than their index finger. Conversely, people exposed to more estrogen have a higher index, therefore an index finger longer than the ring finger.
The research team, whose members are from Swansea University (UK) and the Medical University of Łódź (Poland), found that people with a low 2D:4D index (annular plus long than index) were more likely to consume alcohol and had higher risks of alcohol abuse disorders).
Prenatal hormonal exposure, a better indicator than height or weight
To carry out their research, the scientists measured the fingers of 258 students. Then, using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization, they assessed each person’s alcohol consumption habits. The results reveal that students with a low 2D:4D index consume more alcohol and have a higher score on the AUDIT test (the higher the score, the greater the risk of alcohol dependence). In a statement, research co-author John Manning wrote: “Alcoholic patients are known to have a very long 4D compared to 2D, which indicates high prenatal exposure to testosterone. As might be expected, this index was stronger among men than among women.”
While the researchers also looked at other characteristics like height and weight, they believe prenatal hormonal exposure would be more influential in determining alcohol consumption. However, they indicate that a low 2D:4D index does not characterize a person as a problem alcohol user, and vice versa. Many factors, including the environment and personal choices, influence consumption: “Alcohol is a major social and economic problem. It is important to understand why it presents considerable differences from one individual to another. explique John Manning.
In addition to being very useful to us on a daily basis, hands continue to surprise us. If your fingers help you see more clearly in your consumption habits, they in no way determine your decisions. If you have any doubts about your relationship with alcohol, the AUDIT questionnaire is available online, and sites like Alcool Info Service are accessible to obtain information and, if necessary, ask for help.
Source: www.slate.fr
