Paths to Longevity in the Highly Intelligent Terman Cohort

Abstract

Although highly intelligent people may have certain advantages in maintaining health, there are no simple or strong relationships between intelligence and longevity. This chapter analyses the risks to longevity among 1528 highly intelligent children who were first studied by Lewis Terman in 1922 when they were about 10 years old. All the children had IQs of at least 135 and were good students. Data assessing their substance use, mental health, life stress, social relations, and personality have been collected and refined. Importantly, we have collected death certificates. Findings suggest that although this cohort lives longer than average, these intelligent people faced many of the challenges and threats to health faced by ordinary people. Health-related behaviors (substance use), psychological adjustment, personality, and social relationships are all important predictors of longevity. We conclude that while intelligent people may have certain advantages in maintaining their health, they are not invincible to the key behavioral and psychosocial influences that interact with biology to determine mortality risk. Going beyond biology, the broader patterns of individual life paths need to be taken into account in understanding longevity and in designing health-relevant interventions. "We should take care not to make the intellect our God; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality." - Albert Einstein ("Religion and Science," New York Times Magazine, 9 November, 1930) Popular stereotypes of highly intelligent people contrast them with athletes, tough guys and manual laborers. The highly intelligent may be labeled as frail, weak, and "nerdy" as compared to their muscular, robust counterparts. Despite such cliches, there is little empirical research that suggests that intelligent people are frail or experience poor health. In fact, research suggests that intelligence is inversely related to morbidity and mortality; bright people live longer. The strength of the relationship between health and intelligence is not decisively strong, however. It turns out that intelligence may serve as a marker for other health factors, and although it potentially provides a number of health advantages, these advantages are often outweighed by other factors. There is a complex network of moderating factors that need consideration. This issue is not a new one. In 1922, Lewis Terman, a psychologist at Stanford University, set out to study the life-course of highly intelligent individuals (Terman 1925). Terman did not believe the stereotype of the weak, ineffective genius who was predestined to be a geek or nerd. On the contrary, influenced by Charles Darwin, Terman was looking to see if the most intelligent among us could become the strong, vigorous leaders needed to save civilization. To this end, Terman did something quite unusual for his time. He launched a comprehensive, longitudinal study of gifted children. Longitudinal data make it clear that health is not a static quality; health takes a dynamic course that is a result of developmental processes influenced by biological, behavioral, and psychosocial factors. Further, there is a bidirectional nature of potential relations between intelligence and health that must be considered. This chapter employs Terman's life-span data set to explore highly intelligent individuals' development, patterns of health behaviors, psychological make-up, and social experiences, in relation to their longevity.