Edinburgh, Scotland, 7 November 2024 - A comprehensive 25-year research initiative has yielded significant insights into brain aging and cognitive performance. Findings published in Genomic Psychiatry reveal that approximately half of the variance in intelligence test scores in older age is linked to cognitive abilities established in childhood, challenging traditional views on brain development.
Professor Ian Deary and Dr. Simon Cox from the University of Edinburgh conducted the study, utilizing data from the Lothian Birth Cohorts (LBC) which tracked participants' cognitive abilities from childhood into their eighties. “What’s particularly fascinating is that even after seven decades, we found correlations of about 0.7 between childhood and older-age cognitive scores,” stated Professor Deary.
The research highlights several key findings: brain aging varies significantly among individuals of the same age, DNA methylation patterns can predict mortality risk, and higher childhood intelligence correlates with improved survival rates. Furthermore, the study indicates that genetics affects intelligence in different ways during childhood and later life.
Utilizing advanced imaging techniques, researchers uncovered substantial variations in brain health among peers of similar ages, prompting questions about modifiable factors that influence these differences. Dr. Cox remarked, “We’ve learned that what we often assume are 'causes' of cognitive decline in older age are sometimes actually 'outcomes' of earlier cognitive differences.” This perspective could reshape approaches to brain health interventions.
Future research will explore how early cognitive abilities influence lifestyle choices impacting brain health, the role of environmental factors in maintaining cognitive abilities, and the potential for midlife interventions to preserve cognitive function as individuals age.