It may seem merely a cliche born of centuries of educated people straining their eyes in dimly-lit libraries, but new genetic research suggests those who wear glasses really are more intelligent.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh analysed the genetic data of more than 44,480 people.
They found that, overall, those who were more intelligent were nearly 30 per cent more likely to have genes indicating they require reading glasses than those who scored poorly.
Published in the journal Nature Communications, the research also linked higher cognitive ability to genes known to play a part in better cardiovascular health.
The results are based on the most thorough investigation of intelligence genes of its kind to date.
The research team examined 148 genomic regions related to better cognitive function, including 58 that have not previously been reported.
They said the results could help understanding of the declines in cognitive function that happen with illness and as people age.
Because of the study's design it not possible to say why there is a genetic correlation between intelligence, poor eyesight and cardiovascular health.
However, Dr Gail Davies, of University of Edinburgh's Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, who led the analysis, said:
"This study, the largest genetic study of cognitive function, has identified many genetic differences that contribute to the heritability of thinking skills.Those who participated in the study had all taken a variety of thinking tests which were summarised as a general cognitive ability score.
"The discovery of shared genetic effects on health outcomes and brain structure provides a foundation for exploring the mechanisms by which these differences influence thinking skills throughout a lifetime."
All had genetic testing that examined their DNA and none of the people had dementia or a stroke.
Reader Comments
Brawndo)
[Link]
Then maybe I do!
Reading was not on the caveman's list of things to do. (Hell, he couldn't write a list.)
(I believe, like Fort, that we're 'owned.' I also believe that we've had big time genetic modifications over the ages which explains the 3 million year gap between proto humans and us being around about the last 40K - 400K years, although the latter figure keeps getting pushed back.)
Such genetic engineering makes sense, is consistent with being aware of how almost every major scientific mistake about everything in human history, has resulted from the mistaken presumption that we/the Earth are the center of all things; the only place in the universe with life, intelligent (sic.) life, and the absurd refusal to consider extraterrestrial, subterrestrial and ultraterrestrial intelligent life forms beside,above and beyond us just the current version of the Sun Revolving around the Earth. (Geo/Human chauvinism/centrism)
Such also helps explain the illogical and never to be found 'missing link.'.
I had perfect vision until after I finished graduate school and began my reading and writing intensive career. It's slowly 'Myopiated' with me putting off glasses until both eyes were -.75. (I only got -.50's however.
I've always gotten one level lower than they wished to give me as doing so just expedites one's 'myopiazation'.
So who is most likely to get jobs that require a lot of reading? Higher or lower IQ people?
R.C.,
*See Out of Place Artifacts ( OOPARTS ) which get buried by Museums.
RC