Intelligent people could live 15 years longer


It seems there may be some truth in the old cliche about being old and wise, for a new study has revealed that brainy people are likely to live 15 years longer. Researchers at Calabria University in Italy have found that longevity is because the brains of intelligent people age more slowly thanks to the very gene SSADH which makes them clever actually.

According to them, those with the less "smart" variant of the gene, are unlikely to live beyond 85 but those blessed with a "good" version of the same gene could expect to live up to 100 years. The Italian team came to the conclusion after analysing a research involving 500 elderly men and women.

They asked 115 people within the sample, who fell into the 65 to 85 age group, to take cognitive tests. Those with the less intelligent variant of the gene performed significantly worse confirming the earlier pattern.

However, lead researcher Prof Giuseppe Passarino said that “lifestyle such as reading, having challenging work and enriching cultural life will also influence one’s longevity."

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