Does Alzheimer's disease progress more slowly is you have a high IQ?
The correlation between intelligence and the progression of Alzheimer's is an interesting and debatable issue. Often you need to break down the IQ (intelligence) into its specific components to evaluate whether it is true. What is the specific ability of the person? Is it abstract thinking? Insight? Sense of humor? Memory? Problem solving? Alzheimer's affects each person differently and individuals with certain abilities (mathematical, scientific, artistic, etc.) often retain their talents as their overall functioning decreases as the disease progresses. When you research artists who have suffered with Alzheimer's, you will see that although their art or music production changes form, they still evidence their talents. This is similar with intelligence. Cognition has many facets so a person who had exceptional logic may retain aspects of this; another person with outstanding communication skills may maintain this. A person with social skills may also sustain their prior interactive capacity. Higher IQ, thus, does not predict the progression of Alzheimer's but may help the afflicted individual sustain specific skills or talents for a longer period of time. Higher IQ, thus, does not predict the progression of Alzheimer's but may help the afflicted individual sustain specific skills or talents for a longer period of time.
Thank you for this info. My husband was a musician and classical composer and an editor/writer. He can still communicate and be social and has turned his musical composing into wonderful paintings.
