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The association between intelligence and lifespan is mostly genetic.

Rosalind Arden1, Michelle Luciano2, Ian J Deary3

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Higher intelligence is linked to a longer lifespan, with genetic factors playing a significant role. This finding has implications for public health and understanding health inequalities.

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive epidemiology
  • Behavioral genetics
  • Public health

Background:

  • Cognitive epidemiology studies suggest a positive correlation between intelligence and lifespan.
  • Potential explanations include socioeconomic status, health behaviors, or shared genetic factors.
  • Distinguishing these factors requires genetically informative samples.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the genetic and environmental influences on the relationship between intelligence and lifespan.
  • To differentiate between potential causal pathways linking intelligence and longevity.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of three genetically informative twin registries (US, Swedish, Danish).
  • Utilized within-twin-pair analyses to control for shared environmental factors.
  • Employed regression and meta-analysis to model additive genetic covariance.

Main Results:

  • A small positive phenotypic correlation (r = .12) between intelligence and lifespan was observed across combined samples.
  • Additive genetic covariance models indicated a substantial genetic relationship.
  • Genetic contribution to the intelligence-lifespan covariance ranged from 84% to 95% across samples.

Conclusions:

  • Common genetic factors significantly influence both intelligence and lifespan.
  • These findings have implications for public health strategies and understanding health disparities.
  • Highlights the importance of genetic research in intelligence and longevity studies.