It’s a simple do-it-yourself health test, no equipment needed:
Stretch your hands out in front of you and look at how long your
fingers are. Most men have ring fingers that are slightly longer
than their index fingers, while in most women these fingers are
roughly the same length.
So what? Well, variations to these typical findings may have
important implications for your health. It turns out that hormones
released in the womb influence finger length and, as odd as it
sounds, they also have important effects on future health and
behavior. Gad Saad, PhD, professor of marketing and research chair
in evolutionary behavioral sciences and Darwinian consumption at
Concordia University in Montreal, and his colleagues have examined
numerous studies involving finger length and found lots of
interesting associations.
THE "CASANOVA PATTERN"
Dr. Saad refers to finger length as "a proxy of prenatal
testosterone exposure," explaining that the ratio between the index
and the ring finger is determined early in pregnancy. The more
exposure the fetus has to this predominantly male hormone, the more
so-called masculine traits the adult will have (whether male or
female) and the longer the ring finger will be.
Interesting fact: Having a long ring finger is
known as the "Casanova pattern," since Casanova was notably reputed
to have a very long ring finger (in relation to his index finger).
Dr. Saad told me that this means that "he had a highly masculinized
digit ratio."
According to Dr. Saad, early exposure to testosterone also
affects how organs are formed, which is why this ratio is relevant
to your future susceptibility to disease. In most people, the
discrepancy between the ring and index finger is more pronounced on
the right hand than the left.
FINGER LENGTH POINTS TO YOUR FUTURE
Here are some of the conclusions scientists have reached in
recent years...
- An impact on disease
risk. In the British Journal of Cancer,
researchers reported that men whose index fingers were longer than
their ring fingers (indicating less prenatal exposure to
testosterone) were at lower risk for prostate cancer. On the other
hand, scientists at Liverpool University observed that males with
longer index fingers were at a higher risk for heart attack than
other males, presumably because testosterone is
heart-protective.
- A clue to
sexuality. The Casanova pattern may offer a clue to
sexual orientation. UC Berkeley scientists found that lesbian women
tended (like men) to have longer ring fingers than index fingers.
But, Dr. Saad said, the findings aren’t so straightforward for gay
men. In homosexuals with several older, heterosexual brothers,
researchers found a tendency to have much longer ring fingers than
straight men... while those without older brothers were more likely
to have the same male-pattern, longer ring finger as straight
men.
- More sports
ability. Scientists believe that high testosterone
translates into better success on the playing field, as it
encourages aggression, competitiveness and dominant behavior and
also facilitates power, endurance and visual-spatial skills. At
Temple University, investigators noted that men with longer ring
fingers tended to do better in sports such as football and
soccer.
- More aggression and
risk-taking. At Cambridge University in England,
researchers found that financial traders with longer ring fingers
tended to be more aggressive and earned the most money. In another
study, an analysis of students at Concordia, Dr. Saad and his team
discovered that males with longer ring fingers took more
recreational, social and financial risks.
LOOKING AHEAD
Your finger length is far from a perfect predictor of your
health, of course, but youcan consider it a helpful
clue to what health challenges the future may hold -- so you do all
you can to circumvent them. For instance, if you are a male and
your finger ratio suggests increased cardiovascular risk, ask your
doctor to assess your heart health and pay close attention to
cardio-related lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise. Plus,
it’s a great conversation-starter when you need to make small talk
-- and that can be plenty helpful in life, too!