A recent research\u00a0study<\/a>\u00a0suggests that IQ levels\u00a0are going down<\/strong>. The study is controversial because of the difficulty of finding samples of IQ levels from people of different eras.<\/p>\n However, the team was able to study reaction times, which are part of intelligence tests. They found that these declined over the period from 1884 to 2004 and determined that the difference could be as much as 14 points on the IQ scale.<\/strong><\/p>\n There is more evidence that IQ levels are going down based on the difference in these levels from the 1950s and today. Richard Lynn<\/strong>, a psychologist at the University of Ulster, found that our collective intelligence has dropped by one IQ point.<\/p>\n Many people have also commented that there are clear signs that our intelligence is becoming reduced<\/strong>. They cite evidence from textbooks and exam questions over time. Some researchers have concluded that we expect less from our children than from previous generations.<\/p>\n Other researchers refer to evidence from literature, which they say clearly shows that in the past, people could understand longer texts with wider vocabularies than many can today.<\/strong><\/p>\n So what causes these differences in IQ levels?<\/strong> Well, researchers generally agree that they differ for a variety of reasons, including genetics and environmental factors.<\/p>\n Based on such studies of the IQs of identical twins, researchers have determined about half of intelligence<\/a> is determined by genetics<\/strong>. This means that half of our intelligence is based on other factors including family wealth, parents’ attitudes to education, and cultural and educational opportunities.<\/p>\n Various theories have considered why we may be getting dumber and dumber. Factors include everything from high-fat diets, air pollution,\u00a0multi-tasking, and\u00a0shallow forms of information<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>including watching reality TV.<\/p>\n Some researchers have suggested that because our lives are simpler in the modern world,<\/strong> we do not need the levels of intelligence we once did to survive.<\/p>\n Of course, we also have more technological aids than we ever have before. We do not need to be good at mental math, or spelling, for example, because we have tools to take care of these kinds of problems.<\/p>\n When thinking about the intelligence of our children, we should consider making sure they get a healthy lifestyle and a good education. But is it too late for us to improve our own IQ?<\/strong> Apparently not. In fact, there are several actions we can take to help improve our\u00a0intelligence<\/strong>.<\/p>\n There are many games and apps that we can use to increase our IQ. Puzzles and word games can also help improve our mental acuity<\/a>. Even video games can improve our spatial awareness.<\/p>\n Fitness really can improve our intelligence.\u00a0Maria Aberg<\/a>\u00a0proved cardiovascular fitness can raise your verbal intelligence by 50%<\/strong>. A brisk walk or run, an aerobics exercise class, or hitting the treadmill at the gym should do the trick.<\/b><\/p>\nGenetic Influences on Intelligence<\/h3>\n
Other reasons we might be getting dumber and dumber<\/h3>\n
Can we affect our IQ Levels?<\/h3>\n
Play Games<\/h4>\n
Get fit<\/h4>\n
Eat less meat<\/h4>\n