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The Role of Adolescent Nutrition and Physical Activity in the Prediction of Verbal Intelligence during Early Adulthood: A Genetically Informed Analysis of Twin Pairs

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  • Dylan B. Jackson

    (Department of Criminal Justice, College of Public Policy, University of Texas at San Antonio, 501 W. Cesar Chavez Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78207, USA)

  • Kevin M. Beaver

    (College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Florida State University, 112 S. Copeland St., Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
    Center for Social and Humanities Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

A large body of research has revealed that nutrition and physical activity influence brain functioning at various stages of the life course. Nevertheless, very few studies have explored whether diet and exercise influence verbal intelligence as youth transition from adolescence into young adulthood. Even fewer studies have explored the link between these health behaviors and verbal intelligence while accounting for genetic and environmental factors that are shared between siblings. Employing data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, the current study uses a sample of same-sex twin pairs to test whether youth who engage in poorer fitness and nutritional practices are significantly more likely to exhibit reduced verbal intelligence during young adulthood. The results suggests that, independent of the effects of genetic and shared environmental factors, a number of nutritional and exercise factors during adolescence influence verbal intelligence during adulthood. Limitations are noted and suggestions for future research are outlined.

Suggested Citation

  • Dylan B. Jackson & Kevin M. Beaver, 2015. "The Role of Adolescent Nutrition and Physical Activity in the Prediction of Verbal Intelligence during Early Adulthood: A Genetically Informed Analysis of Twin Pairs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:1:p:385-401:d:44220
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Singh-Manoux, A. & Hillsdon, M. & Brunner, E. & Marmot, M., 2005. "Effects of physical activity on cognitive functioning in middle age: Evidence from the whitehall II prospective cohort study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 95(12), pages 2252-2258.
    2. Allison A. M. Bielak & Nicolas Cherbuin & David Bunce & Kaarin J. Anstey, 2014. "Preserved Differentiation Between Physical Activity and Cognitive Performance Across Young, Middle, and Older Adulthood Over 8 Years," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 69(4), pages 523-532.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dylan B. Jackson & Kevin M. Beaver, 2015. "The Influence of Nutritional Factors on Verbal Deficits and Psychopathic Personality Traits: Evidence of the Moderating Role of the MAOA Genotype," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-17, December.

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