TRICK OF UPGRADING INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT

The role played by genetics and environment does not remain the same during the entire lifetime. People with high 1Q genotypes pick stimulating environments and end up with high IQ.

- Dr Arun Oommen

The IQ of an individual is multifactorial and is determined by a multitude of factors. Nature and nurture work together in determining human intelligence. Human IQ is characterised by a high level of heritability. However, various modifiable environmental factors like education, premature birth, nutrition, pollution, drug and alcohol abuse, mental illnesses, and diseases can have an influence on an individual's IQ by reinforcing or weakening genetic susceptibility.

Although IQ attempts to measure some notion of intelligence, it may fail to act as an accurate measure of "intelligence". IQ tests only examine particular areas of "intelligence", failing to account for certain areas which are also associated with "intelligence" such as creativity or emotional intelligence Genetics account for around 50% as per many studies and increasing with age. Shared and non-shared environment account for 25% and 20%, respectively, the latter 5% being represented by errors in the evaluation of the cognitive abilities. However, the role played by genetics and environment does not remain the same during the entire lifetime. People with high IQ genotypes pick stimulating environments and end up with high IQ.

When we're kids the brain is still growing and developing so there's the chance for environment (mental stimulation, nutrition) to affect its development, but by the time we're adults the brain has peaked, so environment can no longer affect it very much. Ronald Wilson presented the first clear and compelling evidence that the heritability of IQ increases with age (Wilson effect). During brain ageing, several environmental insults can produce a neuronal damage by inducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Neurons protection and repair play a crucial role in order to prevent neuronal damage.