Genes About a Quarter of the Secret To Staying Smart

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."

Comments

So in other words

[White Flame]

It's not genetics but other factors, presumably mental exercise, diet, etc that contributes 75% to keeping your intelligence intact as you enter old age?

Re:So in other words

[Anonymous Coward]

Useful for confirmation, but not new or unexpected. The /. history has articles about taxi driver training leading to neural restructuring in favor of mapping and geographical awareness. There are some mentally destructive conditions that we don't know how to prevent yet, but in general, you get good at what you do a lot. If you spend your time hauling heavy boxes, you will get stronger (until you hit a physical limit). If you spend your time solving puzzles, studying new scientific research, and practicing your 24 dimensional calculus, you will get better at those. If you spend all your time watching gossip shows on TV and sitting on the couch, you very well may become one with the couch, mentally and physically.

Re:So in other words

[cayenne8]

My theory was that the other 3/4 was associate with not wasting time and grey matter watching inane, worthless, stupid reality shows on TV 24/7....and actually doing something with their minds into their old age.

Of course..diet and exercise certainly had to have a lot to do with it too, I'd guess...

Re:So in other words

[hitmark]

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.

What it takes to make it to 90?

[RossR]

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

"Scottish intelligence study"?

[Rogerborg]

Have they found any yet?

Re:"Scottish intelligence study"?

[kae_verens]

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.

*At least* a quarter...

[OGmofo]

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.

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[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Superior Genepool?

[Beardo the Bearded]

Lamarkable.