Cardiovascular fitness is associated with intelligence in young adulthood. Awesome!
I love that!
Swedish researchers looked at the cardiovascular fitness of men reporting for military duty at the age of 18 as well as their brain power and socioeconomic status and physical capacity. The men with greater cardiovascular fitness had significantly greater intelligence scores than subjects with decreased cardiovascular fitness.
They were more likely to be more intelligent and experience greater success. Who doesn’t need some of that?!
The study looked at 1.2 million men born between 1950 and 1976. MILLION. I have discussed studies with 6 or 8 subjects before but I think this one takes the cake for the largest group of subjects.
When you can study more than a million people and come up with a fair conclusion, I’d say that conclusion borders on becoming a fact.
So what was the conclusion? In order for optimal cognitive function/development to take place, regular cardiovascular fitness is needed.
Gee, seems like we keep arriving at the same spot. Stressed out? Cardiovascular exercise. Need help with blood sugars? Cardiovascular exercise. Feeling depressed? Cardiovascular exercise.
Now we get to add one to the list: Feeling like you’re missing out from competing on Jeopardy? Cardiovascular exercise.
It isn’t that the researchers could determine that one came before the other (if you have great cardiovascular fitness, you are not automatically smarter) but the relationship alone should be enough to encourage you and the kids and teens you know (who have a difficult few years ahead of them as they face college and/or the workplace) to get out there and get fit.
