Children with Higher Intelligence more Likely to be Physically Stronger

According to a new research, children who have been intelligent throughout their academics would be more likely to be physically stronger when they grow older.

Rikke Hodal Meincke a PhD student from the centre for healthy aging and the department of public health 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,” Meincke added.

For the research, a variety of tests have been taken, like the arm strength, the grip,  and chair rising for measuring physical performance.

The sample size for the research consisted of 2,848 Danish males born in 1953 and in 1959-61.

So a simple reason or understanding the connection could be that those with higher intelligence understand more, and thus try to have a healthy lifestyle.

“For instance, they exercise more regularly. Exercise can thus be viewed as a mechanism that explains the connection between intelligence and physical performance”, said Rikke Hodal Meincke.