Global smarts. In this map, countries shaded purple have the highest average IQ. Those shaded dark red have the lowest IQ—and, typically, the highest incidence of infectious disease.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Posted on 07/01/2010 8:55:14 PM PDT by neverdem
What can you do to make your kids smarter? Keeping them healthy might help. A new study suggests that worldwide differences in intelligence can be explained by disparities in infectious disease. The researchers found that countries most heavily affected by infectious diseases generally had the lowest average IQs. They propose that these illnesses hinder children's brain development, though their conclusion is gathering mixed reviews.
The new research relies on data first published in 2002 in a controversial book called IQ and the Wealth of Nations. In the book, psychologist Richard Lynn of the University of Ulster in the United Kingdom and political scientist Tatu Vanhanen of the University of Tampere in Finland searched the published literature to come up with measures of average IQ for 81 countries. They also estimated IQ for another 104 countries by averaging the IQs of nearby nations. Hong Kong topped the list, with an average IQ of 107. The authors argued that national differences in IQ at least partly explained differences in national wealth. In 2006, they expanded the data to include IQ measurements from 113 countries and new estimates for 79 more.
Several groups have attempted to explain the pattern. In the new study, Christopher Eppig, a Ph.D. candidate in biology at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, and his colleagues propose that low IQ is tied to the toll of infectious diseases. Their idea, which the researchers call the "parasite-stress hypothesis," is that children who contract "parasites," which they define to include everything from intestinal worms to bacteria and viruses, devote more energy to fighting off infection. As a result, they have less energy available for brain development. Countries where infectious diseases are prevalent, Eppig and colleagues argue, will have lower intelligence.
To test this idea, the researchers statistically analyzed the relationship between Lynn and Vanhanen's 2006 data and 2004 data on infectious disease burden from the World Health Organization, which measures potential years of healthy life lost to premature death and illness as a result of 28 infectious diseases, including malaria, hepatitis, and tetanus. The researchers also reexamined factors that other research groups had linked to IQ, such as nutrition, literacy, education, gross domestic product, and temperature.
The numbers seem to support the hypothesis, the team will report online tomorrow in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. When the researchers analyzed each factor independently, they found that infectious disease burden was more closely correlated to average IQ than the other variables. "Parasites alone account for 67% of the worldwide variation in intelligence," Eppig says. To further assess the relationship, the researchers built a statistical model that allowed them to test the predictive power of infectious disease burden against other variables previously associated with IQ, such as education, temperature, distance from sub-Saharan Africa, and wealth. Infectious disease burden again came out on top, although temperature and distance from sub-Saharan Africa explained some of the variation as well.
Eppig points out that their study can't rule out any of the other factors. "I would never say that parasites are the only thing affecting the global diversity of intelligence."
Maureen Black, a pediatric psychologist at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, is skeptical. She argues that health by itself isn't enough for full brain development. "For children to develop intellectual skills, they need not only strong bodies and the absence of infections, they also need opportunities to explore and opportunities for enrichment." Those opportunities might be lacking in countries with low average IQ.
But Richard Guerrant, a physician and infectious disease expert at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville, says the researchers are on the right track. His work suggests a link between diarrheal diseases, malnutrition, stunted growth, and lower IQs. The next challenge, he says, will be to uncover the exact mechanisms.
Or does stupidity make you unhygenic and therefore a host to parasites?
I thought the thread topic was about Democrats. ;^)
Cue the "That's Racist!" gif.
They better check the water supply to Capitol Hill/s;)
I think it is and San Fran Nan has a tapeworm the size of Rhode Island.
I think it is and San Fran Nan has a tapeworm the size of Rhode Island.
This is the stupidest “science” I’ve seen in a long time.
Causality is not shown. Only association.
Parasites may be causing stupidity. Or, stupidity may be causing poor hygiene and parasites. Or, some third factor may be causing both stupidity and parasites.
Have these “scientists” ever heard of control groups?
Geez. This is a High School science FAIL, not even College 101.
Look at the same demographic and cultural population having been moved from its original locaiton. For example, look at Somalis in the U.S. versus Somalis in Somalia.
Or, look at the difference in intelligence among differing racial groups both inhabiting a parasite infested location, say South Africa. If both whites and blacks have the same level of parasites, but differing IQs, that would tend to disprove the hypothesis (but might be politically incorrect, to say the least.)
Come on, boys, this is REALLY SIMPLE. You’re supposed to be SCIENTISTS. Use the Scientific Method, for cryin’ out loud. Or at least some semblance thereof.
Bingo
No, Democrats, aka so-called "liberals" are the parasites.
There are people who work for a living, and would like to keep the fruits of their labors, spending or disbursing said fruits as they see fit. These people are generally known as conservatives. One of the hallmarks of successful conservatives is that they may voluntarily choose to share their time/talent/treasure with those less fortunate. The key here is the voluntary nature of the act.
Then there are those that feel they, and others, are somehow entitled to the fruits of your labor, and the fruits of others labor. These people are generally Democrats and identify themselves as "liberal" or "progressive." Although there is nothing liberal about taking away someone's freedom, property, and money. Nor is there anything "progressive" about going back to Neanderthal tribal sharing.
Correlation is the most abused means of statistical analysis in existence. Everyone repeat - most correlations are spurious and/or non-causal. Pay little attention to them unless followed up by sound methodology in causality.
Maybe it's a vicious circle, seriously.
I believe it is reasonably well-accepted science that population groups with reduced access to sufficient (or minimal) quantities complete proteins in their diet, suffer from compromised brain function. I'm thinking of the research done for another controversial book called Guns, Germs & Steel by McNeil. If diet can affect your IQ, why not parasites or viruses?
I could see where it would be more likely that having parasites makes you dumber and thus more unhygenic, which would increase transmission of parasites.
I see they gots some smart folks in Mongolia. Reckon your ‘Tilla the Huns and your Jeng-gus Khans gotta come from somewheres.
Not to ruin your joke but with all of the nationalities crossing our Borders at alarming rates as they have been for many years Our physicians are foolish to continue to believe that parasites stop at the border. Those medical texts were written prior to us being over run
by third worlders (Thanks Uncle Teddy.. hope you are rotting in the hot place!)
Have a friend who almost died of “rare” tick borne disease called babesiosis
last week, I am taking care of her at home, healthy person prior. Can’t walk 4 steps and is completely debilitated.
The CDC doesn;t know “jack” regarding parasitoligy, we have very few smart folks still working on these diseases.
Don’t think all these folks are alarmists, there some bad stuff that’s here already.
Stay Safe re:ticks and lyme disease.. very bad stuff.
Or does stupidity make you unhygenic and therefore a host to parasites?
Beat me to it Unc.
It makes me laugh to see the certainty of the various hypotheses, all to avoid the most obvious one.
Oh well.
The whiter and more Asian the population, the higher the IQ.
Any other explanation is hogwash.
Generally, malaria, TB and other chronic diseases disqualify a person from becoming a legal immigrant.
My thoughts exactly. Chicken or egg.. Stupidity also renders the local culture unable to tackle the problem.
So . . .
Subcontinent of India is the most parasite free large portion of the world eh?
Best nutrition too?
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