Young adults who are fit have a higher IQ
and are more likely to go on to university, reveals a major new study {{U}}
{{U}} 1 {{/U}} {{/U}}out at the Sahlgrenska Academy and Sahlgrenska
University Hospital. The results were recently published in the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The study {{U}}
{{U}} 2 {{/U}} {{/U}}1.2 million Swedish men doing military service
who were born between 1950 and 1976. The research group analyses the {{U}}
{{U}} 3 {{/U}} {{/U}}of both physical and IQ tests the youngsters
took right after they started serving the army. The study shows
a clear link {{U}} {{U}} 4 {{/U}} {{/U}}good physical fitness
and better results for the IQ test. The strongest links are for {{U}}
{{U}} 5 {{/U}} {{/U}}thinking and verbal comprehension. But it is
only fitness that plays a {{U}} {{U}} 6 {{/U}} {{/U}}in the
results for the IQ test, and not strength. "Being fit means that you also have
good heart and lung {{U}} {{U}} 7 {{/U}} {{/U}}and that your
brain gets plenty of oxygen," says Michael Nilsson, professor at the Sahlgrenska
Academy and chief physician at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital. "This may be
one of the reasons why we can see a clear link with fitness, but not with
muscular {{U}} {{U}} 8 {{/U}} {{/U}}. We are also seeing that
there are growth factors that are important." By analyzing data
for twins, the researchers have been {{U}} {{U}} 9 {{/U}}
{{/U}}to determine that it is primarily environmental factors and not genes that
{{U}} {{U}} 10 {{/U}} {{/U}}the link between fitness and a
higher IQ. "We have also shown that those youngsters who
{{U}} {{U}} 11 {{/U}} {{/U}}their physical fitness between the
ages of 15 and 18 increase their cognitive performance," says Maria Aberg,
researcher at the Sahlgrenska Academy and physician at Aby health centre. "This
being the case, physical education is a {{U}} {{U}} 12 {{/U}}
{{/U}}that has an important place in schools, and is an absolute must {{U}}
{{U}} 13 {{/U}} {{/U}}we want to do well in maths and other
theoretical subjects." The researchers have also compared the
results from fitness tests during national service {{U}} {{U}} 14
{{/U}} {{/U}}the socio-economic status of the men later in life. Those who
were fit at 18 were more {{U}} {{U}} 15 {{/U}} {{/U}}to go into
higher education, and many secured more qualified jobs.