Psychology defines intelligence as the capacity to learn from and respond to different circumstances, and then apply that knowledge to produce a desired result.
Charles Spearman found the term “intelligence” too ambiguous and wanted to find a neutral term for defining general intelligence and so coined the term “g”. Spearman identified “g” as a statistical factor in 1904. Expanding Spearman’s work, psychologists Raymond Cattell and John Horn developed a theory breaking down intelligence into two main categories: fluid and crystallized.
Fluid intelligence refers to the ability to solve problems and think quickly. Crystallized intelligence refers to the knowledge and skills you have learnt over time. It relies on your past experiences and knowledge and is relatively stable. E.g. remembering formulas.
In recent years, intelligence has emerged as an unexpected component in the study of longevity. It seems there is a correlation between lifespan and cognitive ability. The growing body of evidence emphasises the complicated interaction between mental and physical health, providing new insights into how cognitive aptitude influences our overall health and longevity.
Cognitive epidemiology is the study of the relationship between intelligence and health – specifically morbidity and mortality. Cognitive epidemiology aims to decipher the statistical correlations between cognitive measures and health.
Does intelligence influence health and lifespan? To investigate this, researchers conducted longitudinal studies and compared cognitive test scores at an early age to a stage later in life. Scholars Lubinski and Humphreys supported this strategy, claiming that IQ-type test results weren’t used enough in epidemiological studies[1].
Cognitive epidemiology dates back to the early twentieth century when IQ testing first became evident. However, it wasn’t until the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries that researchers began to carefully investigate the relationships between intelligence and health. Longgitudinal studies became more widespread revealing unexpected patterns between cognitive measures and health: intellect may act as a predictor of longevity and improved health.
The systematic exploration of the link between intelligence and longevity began in the mid-1980s. A review published by Batty, Deary, and Gottfredson in 2007 examined nine studies conducted between 1984 and 2006. These studies consistently found that individuals with higher intelligence in early life (childhood to young adulthood) tended to live longer. Some of the studies followed participants for nearly 70 years, and all confirmed that higher intelligence was associated with greater longevity[2].
Researchers have also looked into whether intelligence affects the likelihood of developing illnesses. According to studies, poorer IQ is related to an increased chance of developing diseases. Individuals with higher cognitive ability are more likely to adopt healthier living habits, have better access to healthcare, and follow medical advice. Overall, intelligence leads to better decision-making and problem-solving skills, putting individuals at a decreased risk of diseases like dementia.
On the flip side, those with higher IQs reported more health concerns, such as high cholesterol, thyroid disorders, tumours, and regular colds[2]. This could be because people with a higher intellect have a deeper understanding of medical jargon and so are more conscious of their health, and might continually monitor their health.
Researchers have also investigated the relationship between intelligence and health-related behaviours. People with a greater intelligence are more likely to avoid smoking, eat healthier, exercise more and stick to long-term medications. Additionally, a higher IQ may also help a person solve problems more effectively and get past obstacles to continuing healthy habits. Whereas, people with lower IQ in early life are likely to engage in harmful behaviour, be obese and eat unhealthy.
There is more to the relationship between intelligence and health than just an individual’s cognitive ability. Greater intellect often extends to higher degrees of education, better careers, higher incomes and better living conditions. All these social benefits increase the ability to access proper healthcare. Individuals with higher intelligence may be more likely to have access to quality healthcare and therefore make better informed decisions about their health.
We cannot completely rule out our biological factors. According to some researchers, intelligence can serve as an indicator of general physical and mental well-being. e.g. A higher IQ may be a sign of a healthier brain which in turn leads to a healthier body, leading to longevity.
Intelligence also has a genetic component. While studies haven’t been able to conclusively identify any single gene that plays a major role in differences they have found that intelligence is heritable to some extent[3]. This means that a portion of an individual’s intelligence can be attributed to their genetic makeup, influencing their overall well-being and health outcomes.
There is evidence to suggest that IQ and longevity are related, however not everyone agrees. Critics argue that external factors such as socioeconomic factors play a larger role in an individual’s well-being, rather than intelligence per se. Other challenges such as cultural biases and the challenge of effectively measuring cognitive ability hinder the ability to measure intelligence accurately.Furthermore, as IQ is only one of many characteristics that determine lifespan and health, it may have less predictive power when other factors are taken into consideration.
If intelligence is a reliable indicator of lifespan, this could influence the development of health interventions that target cognitive function to improve overall health outcomes. Recognising the value of intelligence may also aid in identifying any at-risk populations allowing for the development of health solutions targeted to their needs. However, considering the ethical implications of linking IQ to health outcomes and the potential for it to worsen social inequity, caution must be exercised in approaching this relationship.
Even though intelligence can provide some light on longevity, it is only one piece of the complex puzzle that determines how long we live.
1.Deary, Ian J, and G David Batty. “Cognitive Epidemiology.” Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, vol. 61, no. 5, 1 May 2007, pp. 378–384, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2465694/, https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2005.039206.
2.Deary, Ian J. “Cognitive Epidemiology: Its Rise, Its Current Issues, and Its Challenges.” Personality and Individual Differences, vol. 49, no. 4, Sept. 2010, pp. 337–343, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2009.11.012.
3.MedlinePlus. “Is Intelligence Determined by Genetics?: MedlinePlus Genetics.” Medlineplus.gov, 1 Aug. 2023, medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/traits/intelligence/.
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