That study suggested the higher consumption was linked with greater alcohol tolerance among people with light eyes. Research into these mechanisms may eventually contribute to the development of more targeted treatment and prevention strategies, considering the multifaceted nature of genetic and environmental influences on health. Multiple factors contribute to the development of AUD, including genetic vulnerability, psychological stress, social environment, and the reinforcing effects of alcohol.
Signs of Alcohol Use Disorder
Li just submitted a grant application to pursue those missing genes and is working on another proposal for funding to continue that pursuit using the large database of patient samples. The original shop in this regional chain opened in Manchester, Vermont, in 1988, and there are 11 locations around New England, though just the one in Maine. Gone are the ’90s-era banana-walnut bagels and cold pizza cream cheese, but The Works Cafe is still a reliable place to grab a salt, multigrain or cinnamon raisin bagel, among others. The Maine Bagel is a drive-thru with several breakfast and other kinds of sandwiches available. With a bagel list that features egg and bialy among the standards, the family-owned spot is the perfect place to stop on your way to Pine Point Beach.
Where to find support
A person who misuses alcohol may think or say they will have one drink of alcohol but then go on to have several. A 2021 study found that AUD may disrupt social events and cause financial difficulties in families. Too much alcohol affects your speech, muscle coordination and vital centers of your brain. This is of particular concern when you’re taking certain medications that also depress the brain’s function. Because denial is common, you may feel like you don’t have a problem with drinking. You might not recognize how much you drink or how many problems in your life are related to alcohol use.
Side Effects of Alcohol Use Disorder
Despite these findings, it is critical to note that eye color alone does not predetermine alcoholism risk. As research continues, it is hoped that such studies can contribute to a better understanding of alcoholism and eventually lead to more effective treatment and prevention strategies. Ultimately, while there is some evidence to suggest a link between blue eyes and alcoholism, it is essential to approach these findings with caution. Factors beyond genetics, including environmental, cultural, and psychological influences, must be carefully examined to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between eye color and alcoholism. The research outlines the need for further exploration into whether environmental factors, including upbringing and cultural influences, can moderate the relationship between eye color and alcoholism. This could help distinguish between what is truly a genetic predisposition and what may be an environmentally induced pattern of behavior.
This distribution varies widely, with higher concentrations in European countries. Understanding the genetics of eye color is not only a matter of curiosity but has practical implications in the fields of genetics, ophthalmology, and even evolutionary studies. For instance, the inheritance pattern of eye color can help explain dominant and recessive traits and how they are passed down through generations. “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.
- If you’re concerned about someone who drinks too much, ask a professional experienced in alcohol treatment for advice on how to approach that person.
- As it turns out, the genetic components that determine eye color line up along genes related to excessive alcohol use, the study authors explained.
- According to a 2019 study, people with AUD have a heightened risk for depressive disorders.
- The speculation arises from observed correlations, where individuals with lighter eye colors, particularly blue eyes, may display a higher incidence of alcohol dependency compared to those with darker eyes.
However, Austin said knowing more about possible genetic links could mean in the future people can better understand their risk factor. However, she said if they also have a family history, they can meet with a genetic counselor to talk about risks of developing alcoholism. The genetic components that determine eye color line up along the same chromosome as the genes related to excessive alcohol use, the researchers found.
But if you’re concerned about the genes behind alcoholism, for now you might do better to consider your own family history of alcoholism than your eye color. Almost every disease we know of has a genetic component, and alcoholism is no exception. Researchers are finally starting to suss out which genes are connected to which diseases, but it’s not an easy task. The handful of genes that have been connected with alcoholism over the past 20 years “can only explain a small percentage of the genetics part that has been suggested,” says study author Dawei Li in a press release. “A large number is still missing, is still unknown.” Several genes determine a person’s eye color, and there’s a very remote chance that one of them is in some way tied to alcoholism, too.
About 50% of people with AUD develop withdrawal symptoms after they stop drinking. Drinking more than intended may include drinking larger amounts of alcohol music therapy in addiction recovery or drinking longer than a person planned to. A person with AUD may want to cut down on drinking alcohol or have tried to in the past but could not stop.
This suggests that specific genes are implicated in AUD, as well as the regulation and expression of these genes. For prospective parents curious about the potential eye color of their offspring, tools like baby genetics calculators can provide statistical probabilities based on Mendelian genetics. However, these probabilities are only estimates, as the actual outcome is influenced by the intricate genetic dynamics at play. 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.
To determine whether a person has AUD, healthcare professionals refer to the criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR). But as you continue to drink, you become drowsy and have less control over your actions. HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thanks to SAG-AFTRA and its members for their ongoing generosity and support of the organization and our cause.Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | FCOI Policy • ©2023 Partnership to End Addiction.
Understanding the potential link between blue eyes and alcoholism requires consideration of not just genetic predispositions but also environmental factors. The research indicates that while there may be a genetic component, the environment plays a critical role in the development of alcohol use disorders (AUD). An individual’s upbringing, socioeconomic status, exposure to alcohol at a young age, and cultural attitudes toward drinking are all environmental aspects that could contribute to the observed correlation. The study outlines the genetic components that determine eye color and shows that they line up along the same chromosome as the genes related to excessive alcohol use. Recent research has sparked intriguing discussions regarding a potential correlation between blue eye color and an increased risk for alcoholism. A study led by the University of Vermont, published in the American Journal of Medical Genetics, found that individuals with blue eyes showed higher rates of alcohol dependence compared to those with darker eyes.
With the identification of genetic risk factors, there is potential for developing genetic risk prediction scores (GRPS) that could help in understanding individual susceptibilities to alcoholism. This predictive approach, based on significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in candidate genes, could also inform personalized treatment strategies designed to mitigate the risk and impact of AUD. Throughout adult life, he has been careful to wear long pants, mixing alcohol and percocet long-sleeve shirts and a hat whenever practical, and to use sunscreen to avoid skin cancer. To have pale skin is not to have the gene for basal cell carcinoma or melanoma. But a person with pale skin is at higher risk for skin cancer and should be more vigilant to mitigate that risk through responsible behavior. Similarly, having blue eyes may mean that a person should be more vigilant about alcohol consumption to avoid the risk of becoming alcohol dependant.
A study by Sakkopoulou & Tsiboukli highlighted the impact of childhood experiences on adults who had a parent who misused alcohol, suggesting that familial environment can influence one’s risk of developing AUD. Furthermore, social influences, such as peer pressure and the availability of alcohol, can also affect drinking patterns, potentially leading to misuse and dependence, regardless of eye color. The researchers’ nortriptyline oral route precautions findings, published in the July edition of the American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B, echo the results of earlier work. A Georgia State University published in 2000 found that people with light-colored eyes “consumed significantly more alcohol” than their dark-eyed peers. It’s important to note that the prediction of eye color is not straightforward due to the complex interplay of the genes involved.
So while eye color may correlate with alcoholism, no one is quite sure of the cause of this connection—but there’s little chance that the blue-eyed genes are causing it. Previous research on people of European ancestry has shown that those with light-colored eyes may consume more alcohol on average than dark-eyed individuals, the researchers said. Other studies also have demonstrated a link between eye color and people’s risk of psychiatric illness, addiction and behavioral problems, according to the study.
