WebMD Medical News Laura J. Martin, MD Jan. 18, 2012 -- Our
genes may play a role in shaping how sharp we remain as we grow
older. Researchers analyzed genetic material from about 2,000
people to determine how intelligence changes from childhood to
adulthood. All of the study participants took tests that
measured their general intelligence at age 11 and then again
when they were 65, 70, or 79. Genes accounted for about 24% of
the mental changes that occur across the life cycle. This means
that environment also plays a big role in shaping and
maintaining our intelligence and mental ability as we grow
older. Now it is up to gene hunters to identify the specific
genes responsible for these changes. “The study will encourage
those researchers looking for the genetic and environmental
contributions to why some people's cognitive functions age
better than others,” says researcher Ian J. Deary, PhD, in an
email. He is a professor of psychology at the University of
Edinburgh in the U.K. The new findings appear in Nat