Intelligence: life outcomes

Work: Intelligence test scores are predictive of educational achievement, occupation, and income. Intelligence test scores explain between 4% and 32% of the differences in education, achievement, occupation and income.

Longevity: Inequalities in health and mortality exist among different socio-economic groups. Intelligence is associated with socio-economic status, as well as health. Whalley & Deary (2001) found that childhood IQ and survival at age 76 correlated, with lower IQ being linked to early mortality. Risk of mortality increased by approximately 20% per one standard deviation increase in IQ. In essence, smart people live longer and have a lower risk of dying.

Smoking affects cognitive change detrimentally from age 11 to 80 (Deary et al, 2003) and they found that on average, smokers had around 6 points lower IQ than non smokers.

Der et al (2009) found a whole range of health issues occurred more frequently in people with lower IQs.

Generally, people with higher IQ will be better informed, thus avoiding risks and living a healthy lifestyle, and ultimately living longer