If Your Eyes Are This Color, You're More Likely to Abuse Alcohol, Study Says

If you have blue eyes, you're more likely to be alcohol-dependent than people with any other eye color, according to a new study from the University of Vermont.

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The study published in the American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics found that European-Americans with light-colored eyes — including those colored green, gray, and brown — have higher rates of alcohol dependency than European-Americans with dark brown eyes, with the highest rates being among those with blue eyes.

“This suggests an intriguing possibility — that eye color can be useful in the clinic for alcohol dependence diagnosis,” lead researcher Arvis Sulovari said.

“We still don’t know the reason,” researcher Dawei Li noted, although the study noted that genes that determine eye color line up along the same chromosome as genes linked to alcohol dependency.

A 2000 study found similar data: Among one sample set of women, those with dark eyes averaged 4.91 drinks in a month compared to those with light eyes, who averaged 5.78 drinks.

And according to Medical Daily, having lighter-colored eyes also can mean that you're more likely to have higher pain tolerance and less likely to experience anxiety, depression and negative thoughts — but you might be less agreeable and more competitive than those with darker eyes.

(H/T: Inquisitr, Yahoo Health)

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