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Genes About a Quarter of the Secret To Staying Smart

Posted by samzenpus on from the luck-of-the-draw dept.

ananyo writes "A Scottish intelligence study that began 80 years ago has borne new fruit. Researchers have tracked down the study's surviving participants — who joined the study when they were 11 years old — to estimate the role that our genes have in maintaining intelligence through to old age. After conducting fresh intelligence tests on the surviving participants, the researchers tested the DNA samples they had collected for the presence of more than half a million common genetic variants, each affecting only a single letter in the DNA sequence of the genome. The team then calculated whether these variants were associated with cognitive stability — how well intelligence had been maintained over time. The sample size of 2,000 people was too small to grant the statistical power needed to track down individual genetic signatures associated with cognitive stability. But it was enough to estimate how much genetics contributes to cognitive aging. The team found that these variants accounted for nearly one-quarter of the differences in cognitive stability."

7 of 77 comments (clear)

  1. Re:So in other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Maybe. Or maybe the genetic factors killed off the faster-declining people prior to old age. Based on the summary, I would say that "Among people who survived to old age, genetic factors account for approximately 25% of mental decline."

  2. Superior Genepool? by DontLickJesus · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Nazi Science

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    Where genius and insanity become confused true wisdom is found
  3. What it takes to make it to 90? by RossR · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Comparing the intelligence and genes of those who did and did not survive to 90 would also be interesting.

  4. *At least* a quarter... by OGmofo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The study only sampled a subset of the genome (certain SNPs), there could be other variations in the genome that contribute even more. We simply can't tell from the study. All we can say is that this study suggests at least a quarter of the variation is explained by the subset of the genotype they have sampled.

  5. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  6. Re:"Scottish intelligence study"? by kae_verens · · Score: 3, Interesting

    A lot of the modern world was invented by Scots. Maxwell's equations, animal cloning, telephones, trains, televisions, penicillin.

    I guess when you're surrounded by fields and sheep, all you can do is drink or think.

  7. Re:So in other words by hitmark · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Makes me wonder if one can pull of something similar to that using direct brain stimulation, and so train someone in a similar way to uploading a program.

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    comment first, facts later. http://chem.tufts.edu/AnswersInScience/RelativityofWrong.htm