The length of a person’s fingers could be linked to how likely they are to suffer from motor neurone disease in later life, a new study suggests.
Researchers measured the finger length of 110 people, including 47 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the most common form of the disease.
They found that those with a longer fourth finger than index finger were more likely to have the disease.
The length of the fourth finger has been linked to a number of genetic traits and it is thought this is related to greater exposure to testosterone before birth.
Dr Brian Dickie of the Motor Neurone Disease Association, said: "This simple, but carefully conducted study raises some interesting questions about how events occurring before birth may increase the risk of developing motor neuron disease later in life.
"But it's important to remember that exposure to higher testosterone in the womb does not directly cause motor neuron disease."
The study was published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry .
Finger length linked to motor neurone disease risk
Wed, 11 May 2011
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