| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
ORIGINAL ARTICLES |
From the Public Health and Health Policy, Division of Community Based Sciences, University of Glasgow (C.L.H., D.J.H.), Glasgow, Scotland; Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh (M.D.T., I.J.D), Edinburgh, Scotland; Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol (G.D.S.), Bristol; Department of Mental Health, University of Aberdeen, Clinical Research Centre, Royal Cornhill Hospital (L.J.W), Aberdeen, Scotland; Royal Victoria Hospital (J.M.S.), Edinburgh, Scotland; and Scottish Council for Research in Education, University of Glasgow (V.W.), Edinburgh, Scotland.
For the Midspan studies, address reprint requests to: Carole Hart, MA, PhD, Public Health and Health Policy, Division of Community Based Sciences, University of Glasgow, 1, Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow G12 8RZ. E-mail c.l.hart{at}udcf.gla.ac.uk For the Scottish Mental Survey 1932, address reprint requests to: Ian J. Deary, PhD, FRCPE, Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, 7, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ. E-mail i.deary@ed.ac.uk
OBJECTIVE: To investigate how childhood mental ability (IQ) is related to mortality and morbidity risk, when socioeconomic factors are also considered.
METHODS: Participants were from the Midspan studies conducted on adults in the 1970s; 938 Midspan participants were successfully matched with the Scottish Mental Survey 1932 in which children born in 1921 and attending Scottish schools on June 1, 1932, took a cognitive ability test.
Mortality, hospital admissions, and cancer incidence in the 25 years after the Midspan screening were investigated in relation to childhood IQ, social class, and deprivation.
RESULTS: The risk of dying in 25 years was 17% higher for each standard deviation disadvantage in childhood IQ. Adjustment for social class and deprivation category accounted for some, but not all, of this higher risk, reducing it to 12%. Analysis by IQ quartile showed a substantial increased risk of death for the lowest-scoring quarter only. Structural equation modeling indicated that the effect of childhood IQ on mortality was partly indirectly influenced by social factors. Cause-specific mortality or hospital admission showed that lower IQ was associated with higher risks for all cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease. Cause-specific mortality or cancer incidence risk was higher with decreasing IQ for lung cancer.
CONCLUSIONS: Lower childhood IQ was related to higher mortality risk and some specific causes of death or morbidity. Childhood IQ may be considered as a marker for risk of death or illness in later life in similar and complementary ways to social class or deprivation category.
Key Words: cohort, • deprivation, • mental ability, • mortality, • Scotland, • social class.
Abbreviations: CHD = coronary heart disease; CVD = cardiovascular disease; SCRE = Scottish Council for Research in Education; SMS1932 = Scottish Mental Survey 1932
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  T. Fujiwara and I. Kawachi Is education causally related to better health? A twin fixed-effect study in the USA Int. J. Epidemiol., October 1, 2009; 38(5): 1310 - 1322. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T Hemmingsson, B Melin, P Allebeck, and I Lundberg Cognitive ability in adolescence and mortality in middle age: a prospective life course study J Epidemiol Community Health, September 1, 2009; 63(9): 697 - 702. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Jokela, G. D. Batty, I. J. Deary, C. R. Gale, and M. Kivimaki Low Childhood IQ and Early Adult Mortality: The Role of Explanatory Factors in the 1958 British Birth Cohort Pediatrics, September 1, 2009; 124(3): e380 - e388. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. D. Batty, M. J. Shipley, R. Dundas, S. Macintyre, G. Der, L. H. Mortensen, and I. J. Deary Does IQ explain socio-economic differentials in total and cardiovascular disease mortality? Comparison with the explanatory power of traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors in the Vietnam Experience Study Eur. Heart J., August 1, 2009; 30(15): 1903 - 1909. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. D. Taylor, M. C. Whiteman, G. R. Fowkes, A. J. Lee, M. Allerhand, and I. J. Deary Five Factor Model Personality Traits and All-Cause Mortality in the Edinburgh Artery Study Cohort Psychosom Med, July 1, 2009; 71(6): 631 - 641. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Modin and J. Fritzell The long arm of the family: are parental and grandparental earnings related to young men's body mass index and cognitive ability? Int. J. Epidemiol., June 1, 2009; 38(3): 733 - 744. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Jokela, M. Elovainio, A. Singh-Manoux, and M. Kivimaki IQ, Socioeconomic Status, and Early Death: The US National Longitudinal Survey of Youth Psychosom Med, April 1, 2009; 71(3): 322 - 328. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 W. Johnson, I. J. Deary, M. McGue, and K. Christensen Genetic and Environmental Links Between Cognitive and Physical Functions in Old Age J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci, February 10, 2009; (2009) gbn033v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. A. Hall, J. A. Dubin, M. Crossley, M. E. Holmqvist, and C. D'Arcy Does Executive Function Explain the IQ-Mortality Association? Evidence from the Canadian Study on Health and Aging Psychosom Med, February 1, 2009; 71(2): 196 - 204. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Rabbitt, M. Lunn, and D. Wong Death, Dropout, and Longitudinal Measurements of Cognitive Change in Old Age J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci, September 1, 2008; 63(5): P271 - P278. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K Modig-Wennerstad, K Silventoinen, D Batty, P Tynelius, L Bergman, and F Rasmussen Association between offspring intelligence and parental mortality: a population-based cohort study of one million Swedish men and their parents J Epidemiol Community Health, August 1, 2008; 62(8): 722 - 727. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Yang, J. Lynch, E. S. Susser, and D. A. Lawlor Birth Weight and Cognitive Ability in Childhood Among Siblings and Nonsiblings Pediatrics, August 1, 2008; 122(2): e350 - e358. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G D Batty, M J Shipley, L H Mortensen, S H Boyle, J Barefoot, M Gronbaek, C R Gale, and I J Deary IQ in late adolescence/early adulthood, risk factors in middle age and later all-cause mortality in men: the Vietnam Experience Study J Epidemiol Community Health, June 1, 2008; 62(6): 522 - 531. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. R. Gale, G. D. Batty, and I. J. Deary Locus of Control at Age 10 Years and Health Outcomes and Behaviors at Age 30 Years: The 1970 British Cohort Study Psychosom Med, May 1, 2008; 70(4): 397 - 403. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 N. D. Riediger and M. H. Moghadasian Patterns of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and the Influence of Sex, Age and Socio-Demographic Factors among Canadian Elderly J. Am. Coll. Nutr., April 1, 2008; 27(2): 306 - 313. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. G. Link, J. C. Phelan, R. Miech, and E. L. Westin The Resources That Matter: Fundamental Social Causes of Health Disparities and the Challenge of Intelligence Journal of Health and Social Behavior, March 1, 2008; 49(1): 72 - 91. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. W. Roberts, N. R. Kuncel, R. Shiner, A. Caspi, and L. R. Goldberg The Power of Personality: The Comparative Validity of Personality Traits, Socioeconomic Status, and Cognitive Ability for Predicting Important Life Outcomes Perspectives on Psychological Science, December 1, 2007; 2(4): 313 - 345. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G D. Batty, I. J Deary, I. Schoon, and C. R Gale Mental ability across childhood in relation to risk factors for premature mortality in adult life: the 1970 British Cohort Study J Epidemiol Community Health, November 1, 2007; 61(11): 997 - 1003. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Melchior, T. E. Moffitt, B. J. Milne, R. Poulton, and A. Caspi Why Do Children from Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Families Suffer from Poor Health When They Reach Adulthood? A Life-Course Study Am. J. Epidemiol., October 15, 2007; 166(8): 966 - 974. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
I. J Deary and G D. Batty Cognitive epidemiology J Epidemiol Community Health, May 1, 2007; 61(5): 378 - 384. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. Holsinger, M. Helms, and B. Plassman Intelligence in early adulthood and life span up to 65 years later in male elderly twins Age Ageing, May 1, 2007; 36(3): 286 - 291. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G D. Batty, I. J Deary, and S. Macintyre Childhood IQ in relation to risk factors for premature mortality in middle-aged persons: the Aberdeen Children of the 1950s study J Epidemiol Community Health, March 1, 2007; 61(3): 241 - 247. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. R Gale, I. J Deary, I. Schoon, and G D. Batty IQ in childhood and vegetarianism in adulthood: 1970 British cohort study BMJ, February 3, 2007; 334(7587): 245 - 245. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. A. Lawlor, H. Clark, and D. A. Leon Associations Between Childhood Intelligence and Hospital Admissions for Unintentional Injuries in Adulthood: The Aberdeen Children of the 1950s Cohort Study Am J Public Health, February 1, 2007; 97(2): 291 - 297. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. Batty, K Modig Wennerstad, G Davey Smith, D Gunnell, I. Deary, P Tynelius, and F Rasmussen IQ in early adulthood and later cancer risk: cohort study of one million Swedish men Ann. Onc., January 1, 2007; 18(1): 21 - 28. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. D. Batty, I. J. Deary, I. Schoon, and C. R. Gale Childhood Mental Ability in Relation to Food Intake and Physical Activity in Adulthood: The 1970 British Cohort Study Pediatrics, January 1, 2007; 119(1): e38 - e45. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 I. J. Deary, L. J. Whalley, G. D. Batty, and J. M. Starr Physical fitness and lifetime cognitive change. Neurology, October 10, 2006; 67(7): 1195 - 1200. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G D. Batty, I. J Deary, and S. Macintyre Childhood IQ and life course socioeconomic position in relation to alcohol induced hangovers in adulthood: the Aberdeen children of the 1950s study. J Epidemiol Community Health, October 1, 2006; 60(10): 872 - 874. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Hemmingsson, B. Melin, P. Allebeck, and I. Lundberg The association between cognitive ability measured at ages 18-20 and mortality during 30 years of follow-up--a prospective observational study among Swedish males born 1949-51 Int. J. Epidemiol., June 1, 2006; 35(3): 665 - 670. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
I. J Deary and G D. Batty Commentary: Pre-morbid IQ and later health--the rapidly evolving field of cognitive epidemiology Int. J. Epidemiol., June 1, 2006; 35(3): 670 - 672. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G D. Batty, G. Der, S. Macintyre, and I. J Deary Does IQ explain socioeconomic inequalities in health? Evidence from a population based cohort study in the west of Scotland BMJ, March 11, 2006; 332(7541): 580 - 584. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. A. Shipley, G. Der, M. D. Taylor, and I. J. Deary Cognition and All-Cause Mortality Across the Entire Adult Age Range: Health and Lifestyle Survey Psychosom Med, January 1, 2006; 68(1): 17 - 24. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. A Ronalds, B. L De Stavola, and D. A Leon The cognitive cost of being a twin: evidence from comparisons within families in the Aberdeen children of the 1950s cohort study BMJ, December 3, 2005; 331(7528): 1306. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Gunnell, L. L. Miller, I. Rogers, J. M. P. Holly, and and the ALSPAC Study Team Association of Insulin-like Growth Factor I and Insulin-like Growth Factor-Binding Protein-3 With Intelligence Quotient Among 8- to 9-Year-Old Children in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children Pediatrics, November 1, 2005; 116(5): e681 - e686. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. A Lawlor, G D. Batty, S. M B Morton, I. J Deary, S. Macintyre, G. Ronalds, and D. A Leon Early life predictors of childhood intelligence: evidence from the Aberdeen children of the 1950s study J Epidemiol Community Health, August 1, 2005; 59(8): 656 - 663. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. D. Batty and I. J. Deary HEALTH COMMUNICATION, INTELLIGENCE, AND HEALTH DIFFERENTIALS Am J Public Health, July 1, 2005; 95(7): 1088 - 1088. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Singh-Manoux, J. E. Ferrie, J. W. Lynch, and M. Marmot The Role of Cognitive Ability (Intelligence) in Explaining the Association between Socioeconomic Position and Health: Evidence from the Whitehall II Prospective Cohort Study Am. J. Epidemiol., May 1, 2005; 161(9): 831 - 839. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D Gunnell, P K E Magnusson, and F Rasmussen Low intelligence test scores in 18 year old men and risk of suicide: cohort study BMJ, January 22, 2005; 330(7484): 167. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G D. Batty and I. J Deary Early life intelligence and adult health BMJ, September 11, 2004; 329(7466): 585 - 586. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. D. Batty, L. J. Whalley, J. M. Starr, and I. J. Deary RE: "RELATION OF EDUCATION AND OCCUPATION-BASED SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS TO INCIDENT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE" Am. J. Epidemiol., August 15, 2004; 160(4): 404 - 405. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. T Martin, G. M Fitzmaurice, D. J Kindlon, and S. L Buka Cognitive performance in childhood and early adult illness: a prospective cohort study J Epidemiol Community Health, August 1, 2004; 58(8): 674 - 679. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Kuh, M. Richards, R. Hardy, S. Butterworth, and M. E. Wadsworth Childhood cognitive ability and deaths up until middle age: a post-war birth cohort study Int. J. Epidemiol., April 1, 2004; 33(2): 408 - 413. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. S. Gottfredson and I. J. Deary Intelligence Predicts Health and Longevity, but Why? Current Directions in Psychological Science, February 1, 2004; 13(1): 1 - 4. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
