Study: Children with Higher IQs Live Longer

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland has revealed that children with higher levels of intelligence tend to live longer than their peers.

Published in the journal Genomic Psychiatry, the study found a genetic link between early-life IQ and life expectancy. The researchers analyzed genetic data related to cognitive functions in more than 400,000 children aged 6 to 18, and compared it with genetic data associated with longevity.

David Hill, one of the study’s authors, told The Daily Mail that “there are several reasons that may explain this.” He explained that “a higher level of cognitive ability in childhood often leads to greater educational attainment, which in turn provides access to environments that support better health.”

He also noted that another possible explanation is that “genetic variations associated with higher cognitive ability in childhood contribute to the development of a body and mind more resilient to harmful environmental influences.”