If the results of a personality test reveal that adults tend to display aggressive behavior, they may want to think back to their childhood. A high exposure to secondhand smoke in these individuals' younger years may be the reason behind their aggression.
This is the conclusion researchers from the University of Montreal and CHU Sainte-Justine hospital arrived at in a recent study, which was published in the "Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health." After analyzing data on 2,055 children, which looked at their behavior and exposure to secondhand smoke from birth to age 10, the researchers could see a clear link between the two.
"Those having been exposed to secondhand smoke, even temporarily, were much more likely to report themselves as being more aggressive by the time they finished fourth grade," said Linda Pagani, one of the researchers behind the study.
It is no secret that secondhand smoke is bad for those who are exposed to it, no matter how old they happen to be. However, the researchers said that secondhand smoke can be especially dangerous to youths, as the brain is still developing during childhood.
Berries, like many other fruits, are known to do the body good. Blueberries, for instance, are filled with compounds that scientists believe may prevent certain chronic diseases, according to the Mayo Clinic. As time passes, researchers continue to learn more about the health effects of consuming berries.
In a recent study, researchers from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and Tufts University's Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging set out to learn more about berries' protective properties. The researchers fed rats berries two months before the rodents were exposed to radiation. In this study, the radiation served as a model for accelerated aging.
The researchers found that rats that were on the berry diet experienced "significant protection" against radiation 30 days later. Although these findings relate to rats, the researchers plan to conduct a study involving humans between the ages of 60 and 75.
"We have a lot of animal work that suggests these compounds will protect the aged brain and reverse some behavioral deficits," said Barbara Shukitt-Hale, the lead investigator for the human study. "We are hoping it will translate to human studies as well."
With this research in mind, individuals who consume berries on a regular basis may want to take an IQ test and see what effects they are having on their cognitive abilities.
If adults find themselves becoming forgetful as they grow older, they may want to consider adding some rosemary to their meals. Recently, researchers from the University of Northumbria found that this herb may be just what people need to improve their prospective memory, or the ability to remember tasks they have to complete in the future.
This research, which was presented at the Annual Conference of the British Psychological Society in Harrogate, England, focused on the effects rosemary essential oil's aroma can have on the brain. During the study, the researchers spread rosemary essential oil throughout a testing room using an aroma steam fan diffuser. Then, 66 individuals were asked to enter either the rosemary room or a separate room without any scent to have their prospective memory abilities assessed.
Of the two study groups, those who had their prospective memory tested in the rosemary room performed better than participants in the scentless room.
Based on the results of this study, adults who are exposed to rosemary on a regular basis may want to take an IQ test and see if this herb's aroma is having any effect on their cognitive abilities.
Past research has shown that when older adults engage in different forms of activity, their brain stands to benefit. For example, the National Institutes of Health's NIHSeniorHealth website states that regular exercise is important to people's mental health. Now, there is new research that provides more evidence of the powerful effects physical activity can have on the brains of older adults.
In a recent University of California, San Francisco study, researchers worked with 126 inactive older adults who had made complaints about their cognitive abilities. During a 12-week trial, these individuals were asked to engage in different combinations of mental and physical activity.
Overall, there were cognitive improvements across the board. The only problem was this outcome provided researchers with no significant differences between the study groups.
"These results may suggest that in this study population, the amount of activity is more important than the type of activity, because all groups participated in both mental activity and exercise for [60 minutes per day, three days per week] for 12 weeks," said the study's authors. "Alternatively, the cognitive improvements observed may be due to practice effects."
Based on the findings of this study, it is clear different types of activity can influence the brain. As a result, older adults who exercise regularly or challenge their mind may want to take an IQ test.
At 18 years old, Andre Almazán is fascinated with the human brain. However, it is his own brain that has people talking, as this young Mexican is already considered to be a genius, according to the Latinos Post. Most students Almazán's age have not earned a bachelor's degree, but he already has a master's degree in education, with a focus on cognitive development.
Almazán is used to receiving attention for his giftedness, as he finished high school at the age of 12, and college at 16. Earning a master's degree did not prove to be much of a challenge, as Almazán wrapped up his studies in under two years. As if all these accomplishments were not enough, Almazán has been taking medical school classes at the same time.
This gifted individual's IQ is said to be higher than Albert Einstein's, but his talents were not immediately recognizable to those around him. When he was 4 years old, Almazán was wrongfully diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Fortunately, this error was corrected and Almazán was placed on a track that helped him develop his gifts and pursue his interests.
According to the National Association for Gifted Children, different factors can enhance or inhibit kids' talents. Furthermore, the development of their abilities is a lifelong process, which makes the early identification of gifted children essential. One way for parents to accomplish this is to have their children take an IQ test for kids.
When a child shows signs of giftedness, parents should not hesitate to find out what types of talents their son or daughter possesses. Strong results on an IQ test for kids may even provide youths with some direction.
At the age of 13, Neha Ramu does not need direction. However, the young genius' outlook on life has certainly changed since a Mensa assessment revealed she had an IQ of 162, which is higher than that of theoretical physicist Albert Einstein, Knowledge@Wharton High School reported. This prompted the London resident to read Einstein's biography, learn about him and see how she compares.
"He changed the world with his theories," Neha told the news source. "I never thought about being smarter than Einstein; I know I am not."
Although humble, Neha has accomplished a lot at a very young age. Aside from a high IQ score, the 13-year-old earned a score of 740 out of 800 on the SAT's math section, according to The Telegraph. A score that high should come in handy when Neha follows in the footsteps of her parents and pursues a career in medicine, as she has her sights set on attending the exclusive Harvard University.
Some children sit at their parents' computer to watch a video or play a game. When Joshua Toon, a 6-year-old New Zealander, sat at his parents' computer, he participated in the online Mathletics competition and earned two medals, The Timaru Herald reported.
The Mathletics competition, which was created by 3PL Learning, an Australian-based company, is popular among children and attracts millions of kids from around the world. Of all the competitors, Joshua ended up ranking 75 in the competition's science section for children ages 4 to 7. The gifted Kiwi was awarded a silver medal for landing in the second-place spot for mathematics in New Zealand and a bronze medal for achieving third place in science in the country.
Trevor Toon, Joshua's father, is proud of his son's accomplishments and told the news source his son is gifted and reading at an 11-year-old's level.
If parents believe their children could be just as gifted as Joshua, they may want to consider the benefits of an IQ test for kids. Parents should also be on the lookout for what Psychology Today states are signs of giftedness, such as an advanced vocabulary, increased curiosity and a willingness to participate in adult conversations.
When people gain weight, it is not uncommon for feelings of frustration to follow. Based on study findings that appear in the Association for Psychological Science journal "Psychological Science," impulsivity is a trait that individuals can develop after gaining weight.
The researchers behind the study already knew that changes in people's personality can affect their weight, but they wanted to know if the opposite was true. To find out more, they looked at data on 1,900 Baltimore residents' weight changes and personality traits to see if there was a connection.
Researchers found that individuals who experienced a 10 percent increase in their body weight also showed a greater tendency to give into their temptations. Greater impulsivity was not present in those whose weight remained stable.
"If mind and body are intertwined, then if one changes the other should change too," said Angelina Sutin, a psychological scientist who worked on the study. "That's what our findings suggest."
Based on this research, individuals who have experienced significant weight gain may want to take a personality test to see if they have become more impulsive.
If adults go through their days feeling overly anxious, they may want to take a personality test to gain more insight into their behavior. Sometimes, small behavioral signs can also help identify people who are likely to develop anxiety. This is the case with individuals between the ages of 7 and 18, according to new research from the Mayo Clinic.
After conducting a study of more than 800 individuals, researchers found that kids' avoidance of situations they find scary may predict whether or not they will have anxiety. Participants who were open about avoiding certain situations at the beginning of the study tended to be more anxious just one year later.
"Even after controlling for their baseline anxiety, those who avoided had more anxiety than kids who didn't avoid," said Stephen Whiteside, a pediatric psychologist with the Mayo Clinic Children's Center, as well as the study's lead author. "That was consistent with the model of how anxiety disorders develop. Kids who avoid fearful situations don't have the opportunity to face their fears and don't learn that their fears are manageable."
While anxiety disorders are the most common form of mental illness in the U.S., the good news is they are highly treatable, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
Professionals often praise LinkedIn, and with good reason. The social media website's press page states that it has more than 225 million members worldwide. This means that job seekers could take a career test, find out what line of work is right for them and then join LinkedIn and start making valuable connections in the field they wish to enter.
However, as job seekers may be connecting with total strangers, they will want to make a strong first impression. The key to doing so is having a LinkedIn profile that grabs individuals' attention. According to CBS MoneyWatch, one of the best ways to do this is to use LinkedIn's Professional Portfolio feature.
"Customizing your profile on LinkedIn will make it much more compelling to view by your community as well as by hiring managers, clients and colleagues," Nicole Williams, LinkedIn's career expert, told the news source. "This feature truly lets your work speak for itself."
LinkedIn users who take advantage of Professional Portfolio have a chance to imbed images, videos and presentations in their work history. Overall, this provides visitors to their profile with a more visually pleasing and informative experience, which, in turn, could help job seekers get ahead.
After many years spent at home raising their children, some parents believe it is time for them to return to the workforce. However, this is easier said than done for moms and dads who have not held a regular job since before their kids were in diapers.
Fortunately, there are ways for individuals to ease their transition from stay-at-home parent to a member of the workforce. WTOP suggests parents take some time to reassess themselves and their abilities. Taking a career test is one way job seekers can get to know themselves better and the skills they posses.
To become a more desirable job candidate, parents should make sure they are using the right tools. For example, LinkedIn may not have existed the last time they held a job, but a profile on this social media website can help them get ahead. In addition, a strong resume has the potential to help them shine, so the news source suggests they update it and ask someone to read it over.
Some parents may have concerns about how a long absence from the workforce will appear to potential employers. However, Kathy Woods, a senior partner at Korn/Ferry Leadership and Talent Consulting, told Fox Business they should own it and instead explain it to an interviewer right away so it shows they have nothing to hide.
When job seekers want to know if they have what it takes to land a good job that pays a high salary, they may take a career test to gain insight into the skills they possess. For these individuals, thinking back to their early days as math and reading students may also be a good idea, as how people performed in math and reading classes can predict their future success, according to a recent study.
Stuart Ritchie and Timothy Bates, psychological scientists at the University of Edinburgh in the U.K., set out to see how people's early math and reading skills influenced their professional lives in adulthood. Based on data from more than 17,000 individuals, the effects were quite significant.
If study participants possessed higher math and reading skills at the age of 7, they were more likely to live in nicer homes, hold better jobs and earn higher salaries. In fact, going up as little as one reading level at 7 years old was associated with a $7,750 salary increase at the age of 42.
