[a8da6b0c91d]

A whole lot of these epidemiological results largely boil down to IQ. You see it over and over again as the missing factor. People with higher IQs drink more. High IQ is independently linked to better health and longer lifespan, almost certainly at the physiological level. They don't live longer because of smart things they do, they are smart because they're healthy. So from the epidemiological data you get the false impression that things smart people tend to do reduce disease or increase lifespan.

[powera]

How are you supposed to measure this IQ?

I could be wrong, but I don't believe traditional IQ tests give a significant correlation to life-span once you control for environment. (though I think it's clear that wealthy people live longer and drink more)

[a8da6b0c91d]

You measure with an IQ test. They work very well.

The longevity-IQ correlation is robust.

[ketralnis]

Can you point me to a source for this?

[ionised]

I thought the problem discovered with IQ tests is that they don't work very well at all?