Clever kids live LONGER! Scientists uncover a genetic link between childhood intelligence and life expectancy
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It's a puzzle that's plagued scientists for years – why do smarter children tend to live longer?
Studies have shown that those with higher IQ scores at a young age are more likely to still be alive up to 70 years later compared to their underperforming peers.
Now, experts have uncovered a vital clue behind the mysterious phenomenon.
Analysis of enormous sets of data has revealed a genetic link between childhood intelligence and life expectancy.
The team, from the University of Edinburgh, said their findings represent a crucial advance in understanding why more intelligent children tend to live longer lives.
But if you had bad grades at school, fear not – as longevity isn't just down to genetics.
'It does not mean that this link is inevitable,' Dr David Hill, one of the study's authors, told the Daily Mail.
'By changing the environment it is possible to change the genes linked with these traits as well as the link between cognitive ability and longevity.'
Matilda (pictured in the 1996 film) is a renowned children's character who has an incredibly high IQ. The study revealed there are certain genes linked both with being smart as a youngster and living to old age
For their study, which involved more than 400,000 individuals, the scientists analysed genetic data on childhood cognitive function – collected from children aged between six and 18 – and compared it to genetic data on longevity.
They found a strong link between both, providing the first evidence that biology plays an important role.
'There are a number of different reasons as to why this could be,' Dr Hill said.
'One reason is that a higher level of cognitive ability as a child results in a greater level of educational achievement which in turn leads to better access to environments conducive of good health.
'A second hypothesis is the idea that the genetic variants that are associated with a higher level of cognitive ability in childhood do so as they lead to the development of a body and brain more capable of withstanding environmental insults.'
He warned that the link they found does not mean that the only thing that matters to living a long and healthy life is genetics.
However, writing in the journal Genomic Psychiatry, the team said identifying at–risk individuals early could allow for targeted interventions to help them live longer.
And the findings suggest that the benefits of being smart as a child may extend ‘far beyond’ academic achievement.
Dr Hill warned that the link they found does not mean that the only thing that matters to living a long and healthy life is genetics (stock image)
The findings also emphasize the importance of supporting cognitive development in childhood, as the benefits may extend 'far beyond' academic achievement to influence lifelong health, they explained.
'Educational policies and early childhood interventions that enhance cognitive development could have broader public health benefits than previously recognised,' the scientists said.
Their piece also references a previous study that found on average, each increase in test score in youth was linked to a 24 per cent lower risk of death during a follow–up period of between 17 and 69 years.
This relationship was present in both men and women, the study found.
Research in 2014 revealed people who frequently swear are more likely to have a bigger vocabulary than their clean-tongued peers.
A colourful tongue does not mean the talker is lazy or uneducated, the study published in the Language Sciences journal found.
Instead, those who are more confident using taboo words are more articulate in other areas.
Kristin and Timothy Jay, the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts psychologists who co-wrote the study, said it proved swearing was positively correlated with verbal fluency.
'We cannot help but judge others on the basis of their speech,' they wrote.
'Unfortunately, when it comes to taboo language, it is a common assumption that people who swear frequently are lazy, do not have an adequate vocabulary, lack education, or simply cannot control themselves.'
In their conclusion, they added: 'The overall finding of this set of studies, that taboo fluency is positively correlated with other measures of verbal fluency, undermines the [normal] view of swearing.’
A separate and unrelated study from the University of Rochester in 2017 found that intelligent people tend to swear more.
Despite this, studies have also found that the perception of people who swear often is that they are actually less intelligent and trustworthy, creating somewhat of a paradox.
Daily Mail
