Clever students plan for health

Monday August 17th, 2015

Men who are clever in their early adulthood tend to be fitter than their contemporaries later in life, according to Danish researchers.

The link is probably because these men realise the health benefits of physical activity and keeping fit.

The Danish researchers say the link between early intelligence and later fitness is "distinct."

The findings come from a study of 2,848 men born in the 1950s, reported in the Journal of Aging and Health.

The study found increased intelligence linked to a range of tests of strength and fitness.

Researcher Rikke Hodal Meincke, from the University of Copenhagen, said:
"Our study clearly shows that the higher intelligence score in early adulthood, the stronger the participants' back, legs and hands are in midlife. Their balance is also better.

"Former studies have taught us that the better the results of these midlife tests, the greater the chance of avoiding a decrease in physical performance in old age.

"A feasible explanation for this connection between male intelligence in early adulthood and their midlife physical performance could be that people with a higher intelligence score find it easier to understand and interpret health information and thus have a healthier lifestyle, they may, for instance, exercise more regularly.

"Exercise can thus be viewed as a mechanism that explains the connection between intelligence and physical performance."

Journal of Aging and Health August 2015

Tags: Europe | Fitness | General Health

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