Fingering toughness and prostates

The relative length of index and ring fingers is set before birth and varies with fluctuations in exposure to male hormones. This exposure to male hormones also translates into a number of behaviours and physical qualities in the adult. Last month a study based on this phenomenon and using the archaeological record predicted that our ancestors were more promiscuous than we are today. Now two new studies have used finger length to point to prostate cancer risk and mental toughness.

For the first of these studies researchers followed more than 1500 prostate cancer patients between 1994 and 2009. They were compared to more than 3000 healthy “controls”. The most common finger length pattern was to have a shorter index finger than ring finger. About nineteen per cent of men had index and ring fingers that were equal in length and these two groups had an equal risk of developing prostate cancer.

However, men with index fingers longer than their ring finger were 33 per cent less likely to have prostate cancer. In men aged under 60 the link was even stronger and they were 87 per cent less likely to be in the prostate cancer group.

Shorter ring fingers represent less exposure male hormones in the womb and since prostate cancer is a male hormone driven condition, there must be some metabolic link here that manifests decades later. The researchers believe that their findings could be a way to select men for ongoing screening.

In the other study participants had their fingers measured and undertook personality questionnaires as well as completing information about their general life achievements. It was found that a longer ring finger than index finger was linked to a greater likelihood of being optimistic but also of being mentally tough.

One just has to marvel at the incredible and innate equilibrium of life. Gentlemen, your long ring fingers may indicate that you have a higher prostate risk but you’ll also have the mental toughness to handle it.

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