In the first study of its kind to demonstrate a clear link between fitness and cognitive performance, scientists have discovered that better cardiovascular health in teen boys translates to more education and better income later in life.
University of Southern California researchers, working with colleagues at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, studied military service records for more than 1.2 million men born between 1950 and 1976. They found that average test scores in all areas —from verbal ability, to logical performance, to mechanical skills — increased according to aerobic fitness.
In fact, boys whose cardiovascular health improved between the ages of 15 and 18 showed significantly higher intelligence scores than those who became less healthy during the same time period. Even more interesting: boys who were most fit at age 18 were more likely to go to college than their less fit counterparts.
The researchers are clear to point out that the study does not define a causal link between fitness and intelligence — meaning, they aren’t saying being fit absolutely makes you smarter.
“However, the fact that we demonstrated associations between cognition and cardiovascular fitness but not muscle strength… speak in favor of a cardiovascular effect on brain function,” lead researcher Nancy Pedersen, of USC, said in a press statement.
The complete study is published in journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Post new comment