751 0 Posted on Jul 07, 2017, 6 a.m.
Study reveals a correlation between higher childhood intelligence and lower risk of leading causes of death over ones lifetime.
Those who exhibited high intelligence in their childhood years have a reduced lifetime risk for the top causes of death like heart disease, respiratory disease, stroke, dementia and smoking-related cancers. This finding was recently published in The BMJ.
About the Study
A group of University of Edinburgh researchers sought to study the association between IQ scores gauged at 11 years-old and the top causes of death in people upwards of age 79.It is the largest study centered on reporting the causes of death throughout the course of life. The findings show that lifestyle, especially smoking tobacco, is a critically important factor in the effect of IQ on differences in lifespan. Prior studies showed that those with improved intelligence tended to live slightly longer than individuals with less intelligence. However, these studies were mainly based on information derived from male conscripts tracked to the mid-adulthood years.
The findings were derived from data from more than 33,000 men and over 32,000 women born in Scotland back in 1936. These individuals took a childhood intelligence exam at age 11. Their cause of death was identified up to December of 2015. Causes of death for these individuals ranged from stroke to heart disease, digestive disease, cancer, dementia and external causes like suicide or death resulting from an injury.
The Results
Once a number of different factors (age, socioeconomic status, sex) that had the potential to impact the results were accounted for, the research team determined that those whohad a higher childhood IQ score enjoyeda decreased risk of death until the age of 79. As an example, a high score on the childhood IQ test was tied to a 28 percent decrease in risk of death due to respiratory disease. A high score was associated with a 25 percent reduction in risk of death induced by coronary disease. Those who scored high on the childhood IQ test had a 24 percent reduction in risk of death stemming from a stroke.
Other important associations were found for deaths from dementia, digestive disease, injury and cancers related to smoking. There was no association between IQ score and death from cancers that did not relate to smoking.
Why the Study has Merit
Thoughthe study's authors identified study limitations that had the potential to introduce bias, the study is widely considered to be meritorious. The large population sample combined with the 68-year follow-up along with the adjustment for vitally important co-founders gives the study credence. Key associations were intact after additional adjustments for smoking as well as socioeconomic status. This suggests that such factors do not completely account for differences in mortality. Additional studies should consider measures of the cumulative load of these risk factors across the life course.
It can be concluded that childhood intelligence is strongly tied to causes of death that are dependent on previously identified risk factors. The study suggests smoking and its distribution across the socioeconomic spectrum is critically important. Yet it is undetermined if this study tells the whole story or if intelligence indicates something deeper. Perhaps there is a genetic basis to IQ's relation to lifespan.
More:
High IQ in Childhood Linked to Longevity - Anti Aging News
- 107 Years of Grace: Mary Pilgrim on love & longevity - WFLA - May 5th, 2024
- A 100-year-old musician shares the secrets of his longevity - Business Insider - May 5th, 2024
- I tried the longevity regime and felt its benefits in days - The Telegraph - May 5th, 2024
- Winter Haven woman celebrating 107th birthday shares her secret to longevity - FOX 13 Tampa - May 5th, 2024
- Livermore Falls woman, 96, says the key to her longevity is living a healthy life - Lewiston Sun Journal - May 5th, 2024
- Why ovaries are so crucial to women's health and longevity - National Geographic - May 5th, 2024
- How to lead a meaningful and positive second half of life. - Psychology Today - May 5th, 2024
- A longevity revolution is coming. Heres how those over 100 are making the most of their lives - The Guardian - May 5th, 2024
- Jeff Bridges credits wife, 48-year marriage with his longevity - Business Insider - May 5th, 2024
- Rare Longevity Mutation Linked to Unexpected Cardiovascular Benefits - SciTechDaily - May 5th, 2024
- We should stop using the term 'reverse aging,' scientists say - Business Insider - May 5th, 2024
- Expert Opinions on Inflammaging and Aging Rapid Effects, Soothing Benefits, Longevity, Anti-senescence and More - Cosmetics & Toiletries - May 5th, 2024
- Are We Talking About Health and Longevity All Wrong? - InsideHook - May 5th, 2024
- The importance of longevity literacyand managing the risksin retirement - Insurance News Net - May 5th, 2024
- Inside the longevity lab that aims to help people live longer - TODAY - February 27th, 2024
- I'm a longevity expert these are the 4 supplements I take every day to fight aging - New York Post - February 27th, 2024
- The Longest Living People In the World All Abide by the 'Power 9' Rule - GQ - February 27th, 2024
- Im a longevity expert and there's six things you should do daily if you want to live longer' - Daily Record - February 27th, 2024
- Reducing the metabolic burden of rRNA synthesis promotes healthy longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans - Nature.com - February 27th, 2024
- Presidio Federal's Thad Anderson Receives WashingtonExec's Longevity Award - WashingtonExec - February 27th, 2024
- Faces of wealth, intellect and longevity, as revealed by veteran face reader - The Korea Herald - February 27th, 2024
- I'm a longevity expert here are the best foods to eat for a long and healthy life - New York Post - February 27th, 2024
- Danny Care: 'Pilates Has Helped with the Longevity of My Career' - Men's Health UK - February 27th, 2024
- Give Me This Mountain | Tips for Spiritual Longevity - Harvest.org - February 27th, 2024
- Chris Hemsworth did a 4-day fast to reverse aging. His trainer played a cheeky joke to test his willpower. - Yahoo Canada Shine On - February 27th, 2024
- Pet longevity is a spark about to turn into a wildfire - Longevity.Technology - February 27th, 2024
- The Longevity of Bitcoin's Bull Run; Polkadot and Up-and-Coming Memecoin Draw Crowds - Analytics Insight - February 27th, 2024
- 'This is weird': Experts 'shocked' by record-breaking longevity of Death Valley's phantom lake - Livescience.com - February 27th, 2024
- Understanding the Longevity of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Responses to Infection and Vaccination - Medriva - February 27th, 2024
- Experts agree: The fasting-mimicking diet may be the key to longevity - Longevity.Technology - February 27th, 2024
- Daily habits of a longevity expert : TED Radio Hour - NPR - December 30th, 2023
- Why does fruitcake last so long? Ingredients and preparation of the dessert play into its longevity - Fox News - December 30th, 2023
- Interviews of 2023: the longevity companies - Longevity.Technology - December 30th, 2023
- Nancy Wilson Discusses Longevity of Heart & Family Drama Within the Band Ahead of New Year's Eve Show in Seattle - American Songwriter - December 30th, 2023
- What Will It Take To Make Super-Aging Not So Super-White? - Well+Good - December 30th, 2023
- Arteta on Moyes and longevity in coaching | Quotes | News - Arsenal.com - December 30th, 2023
- New Years resolution guide: 5 steps to a healthier 2024 from a longevity expert - Fox News - December 30th, 2023
- Interviews of 2023: the longevity visionaries - Longevity.Technology - December 30th, 2023
- The Top 11 Longevity Tips Of 2023, From The mindbodygreen Podcast | mindbodygreen - mindbodygreen - December 30th, 2023
- Why LeBron James' longevity is unmatched in the NBA | Good Word with Goodwill - Yahoo Sports - December 30th, 2023
- Short vs long fasts: What is the ideal length for longevity? - Longevity.Technology - December 30th, 2023
- Centenarians share the secrets to living a long, healthy life - Fox Business - December 30th, 2023
- Rob Lowe on Turning 60 Soon & His Secret to Career Longevity (Exclusive) - Extra - December 30th, 2023
- Investigating the longevity and diversity of South Asian miniature traditions - STIRworld - December 30th, 2023
- The Silent Threat of Hypochondria: Impact on Longevity and Health - Medriva - December 30th, 2023
- Longevity: What lifestyle habits could help you live to 100? - December 22nd, 2023
- Aiming for longevity - Harvard Health - December 22nd, 2023
- How Long Can We Live? - The New York Times - December 22nd, 2023
- This Was the Year of Obsessing Over Longevity - GQ - December 22nd, 2023
- Menopause Age Looms Over Women. Efforts to Prevent it Could Extend Fertility. - Bloomberg - December 22nd, 2023
- Longevity: Is exercise the key to a longer, healthier life? - Medical News Today - December 22nd, 2023
- The #1 Sign You'll Live to 100, According to Longevity Experts - Gwinnettdailypost.com - December 22nd, 2023
- Cowboys Take On Dolphins, How Longevity Factors Into Hall of Fame Election and More - The 33rd Team - December 22nd, 2023
- Longevity Hacks Are Coming to Your Gym - WSJ - The Wall Street Journal - December 22nd, 2023
- 106-year-old woman shares hobbies, habits she says helped longevity - Business Insider - December 22nd, 2023
- Tips to Improve Your Health & Longevity in the New Year - KATU - December 22nd, 2023
- NN Group gets 13bn longevity risk transfer with Prudential and Swiss Re - Reinsurance News - December 22nd, 2023
- A fresh perspective on longevity - savannahmagazine - December 22nd, 2023
- Este Lauder targets age reversal with Stanford Center on Longevity partnership - Cosmetics Business - December 22nd, 2023
- Longevity means taking a proactive approach to prevention - Longevity.Technology - December 22nd, 2023
- Decoding Longevity: Centenarian Traits and Aging Research - BNN Breaking - December 22nd, 2023
- Brain Age: The Science of Cognitive Longevity - BNN Breaking - December 22nd, 2023
- The Role of Exercise in Longevity: A Holistic Approach to Health and Fitness - Medriva - December 22nd, 2023
- Get interventions to market and to people faster and cheaper - Longevity.Technology - December 22nd, 2023
- Humans Could Live up to 150 Years, New Research Suggests - May 17th, 2023
- The ingredients for a longer life - BBC Future - May 17th, 2023
- Life Expectancy by State 2023 - World Population Review - May 17th, 2023
- About Us - Fountain Life - May 17th, 2023
- Longevity: The Keys to Slow the Aging Process - Dr. Axe - March 29th, 2023
- "I got a 20-year contract. Giannis is going to play for 20 more years" - Mike Budenholzer on the longevity of Giannis Antetokounmpo and the... - January 23rd, 2023
- "I think Nadal has been doing a great job of that in the last four or five years": McEnroe believes Murray needs to shorten points for... - January 23rd, 2023
- Jon Voight is 'blessed' to have had such a long Hollywood career - Yakima Herald-Republic - November 7th, 2022
- USD Index to sink to 103 by end-2023 amid greater certainty and longevity of Dollar downtrend Westpac - FXStreet - November 7th, 2022
- Retirement Calculator | Northwestern Mutual - October 15th, 2022
- The Longevity Investors Conference Gstaad brought together longevity experts and deep-pocketed investors - Cointelegraph - October 15th, 2022
- Do you think ageing can be reversed? Here are 12 longevity startups to watch - Sifted - October 15th, 2022
- 'SNL' Gig Was a Risk Rob Lowe Credits for His Longevity: 'I Had People in My Life Telling Me - TheWrap - October 15th, 2022
- Wellness and longevity brand Serotonin Centers to open in Nashville - Tennessean - October 15th, 2022
- Lesley Stahl on longevity of '60 Minutes': 'That clock is still there' - USA TODAY - October 15th, 2022
- 4 Recipes With Corn, Beans, and SquashThe Three Sisters Ingredients That Blue Zone Centenarians in Costa Rica Eat Every Day - Well+Good - October 15th, 2022