Still, without further studies to confirm and clarify these initial results, the scientific community remains cautious about drawing definitive conclusions. The hypothesis linking blue eye color to a higher propensity for alcoholism has attracted attention and scrutiny within the scientific community. Critiques of this connection primarily emphasize the dangers of mistaking correlation for causation.
Dangerous baby blues: new study suggests link between eye color and alcoholism
Identifying and treating alcohol dependency is a worthy clinical and public health challenge. Alcoholics can be secretive about their addiction and frequently deny it long after it takes a toll on their families, friends and employers. Li and Sulovari found that people with light-colored eyes–or eyes that are blue, grey, or green–were most likely to become alcohol-dependent at some point in their lifetimes when compared to people with dark brown eyes. This is by no means the first time that eye color and alcoholism have been closely linked.
Biological Mechanisms Behind the Blue Eyes and Alcoholism Correlation
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) presents a complex interplay between genetics and environment, contributing to its development and manifestation. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has supported the Collaborative Studies on Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) since 1989, striving to pinpoint genes influencing AUD. The color of our eyes is a direct result of our genetics and the distribution and concentration of melanin within the iris. Has a major impact on eye color by producing a protein that controls melanin formation and processing. Genetic researchers at the University of Vermont said their findings could help doctors learn more about the roots of alcoholism, as well as other psychiatric disorders. Many factors predispose us to alcohol misuse, even gender, but predispositions don’t make our choices for us.
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The researchers at the University of Vermont used 1263 from European Americans collected by alcohol and drug dependent studies in the U.S. (1). They ran multiple genetic tests to search for protein-protein interactions between the genes that code for eye color and alcohol dependency (1). Northern Europeans might have evolved light eye traits as an adaption to darker environments because lighter eyes provide a greater sensitivity to light (1). But an increased sensitivity to light may also increase individuals’ risk for seasonal affective disorder, which can result in alcohol dependency (1). “This suggests an intriguing possibility – that eye colour can be useful in the clinic for alcohol dependence diagnosis,” one of the lead researchers, Arivis Sulovari, said in a press release.
- And as scientists found in this most recent study, there is a “statistically significant” interaction (defined as an affect of one gene on the behavior of another) between the eye color and alcoholism genes.
- A Georgia State University study in 2000 also found that people with blue eyes drank more than individuals with other eye colours, but the researchers will need a lot more to go on.
- Factors such as cultural background, environmental influences, and socioeconomic status can play substantial roles in alcohol dependency and may coincide with genetic factors like eye color.
- Many factors predispose us to alcohol misuse, even gender, but predispositions don’t make our choices for us.
Genes related to eye color influence the production and distribution of pigments like melanin, eumelanin, and pheomelanin in the iris. Blue eyes occur when there is a lower concentration of melanin within the iris, allowing the collagen and stroma of the iris to scatter light, which gives the appearance of blue. Genetic variations, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), play a crucial role in these pigment processes. Researchers at the University of Vermont have released a report suggesting that people with blue eyes are more likely to become alcoholics. As it turns out, the genetic components that determine eye color line up along genes related to excessive alcohol use, the study authors explained.
Multiple factors contribute to the development of AUD, including genetic vulnerability, psychological stress, social environment, and the reinforcing effects of alcohol. According to the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 28.6 million adults aged 18 and older (11.3%) suffered from AUD in the United States. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a medical condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. The mechanism behind tolerance and dependence is based on the way alcohol affects our brain — most notably the way it changes the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain. Drinking causes a brief boost in dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter that fuels the brain’s reward circuit. It also increases the levels of GABA (a neurological sedative) while down-regulating its counterpart, glutamate (an excitatory neurotransmitter).
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a complex condition influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and social factors. While no single gene can be pinpointed Can you drink alcohol on Vivitrol or will you get sick as the sole cause of AUD, research indicates a strong genetic component to the disorder. The heritability of AUD is estimated to be around 40%, suggesting that genetics plays a significant role in the risk of developing this condition. It’s important to note that the prediction of eye color is not straightforward due to the complex interplay of the genes involved.