Those with a history of reckless behaviour while drinking should consider investigating whether they have Finnish roots in their family tree. New research from Helsinki has found that a small number of Finns have a genetic mutation meaning they’re more likely to make fools of themselves when consuming alcohol.
The genetic code, identified by Dr Roope Tikkanen and his research team at the university of Helsinki, makes carriers prone to extreme behaviour even when they are sober, but the effects of alcohol consumption intensify the character streak.
"The results also indicate that persons with this mutation are more impulsive by nature even when sober, and they are more likely to struggle with self-control or mood disorders," Dr Tikkanen said.
Those with the gene, believed to be 2.2% of the Finnish population, or approximately 120,000 Finns, may appear to get drunker more quickly than others, or to suffer the effects from smaller quantities of alcohol.
"They get into verbal arguments and fights, have unplanned sex, are arrested more often than the healthy controls," said Dr Tikkanen.
This mutation is carried in the gene of the serotonin 2B inhibitor, which is a protein that regulates brain activity. Not much is known about its role in the brain, but neuroscientists believe it is linked to the impulsivity present in a number of mental-health disorders.
It is hoped that the identification of this Finnish genetic code could be used to develop drugs to help carriers of the mutation control their behaviour.
