Researchers analyze connection between brain health and IQ
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 05, 2013 11:32 AM

Research has long indicated that individuals who earn low scores on an IQ test tend to be at a higher risk of having poor health and a shorter lifespan. However, scientists have struggled to define this relationship, as factors like socioeconomic status and health-related behaviors cannot fully account for such a strong link, ScienceDaily reports.

To further examine the connection between health and IQ, researchers recently used digital retinal imaging to examine the small blood vessels of individuals' retinas. In doing so, they can better understand the vascular conditions in people's brains.

The results of the study, which were published in "Psychological Science," showed that individuals who had wider retinal venules had lower IQs and also showed evidence of general cognitive issues, like lower scores on various neuropsychological functioning exams. Interestingly, people who had wider venules at age 38 also had lower IQs when they were children.

This suggests that changes in vascular health and cognitive function could start even before the onset of dementia and other forms of cognitive decline. In the future, this could help researchers better understand how to treat and prevent dementia, which is a significant health concern in the U.S. Today, more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's, one of the most common forms of dementia, making it a leading cause of death in the U.S., the Alzheimer's Association states.