Early Childhood Cognitive Assessments as Predictors of Adult Intelligence and Cognitive Resilience

Recent research from the University of Colorado Boulder highlights the potential of infant cognitive testing to forecast intelligence and cognitive abilities well into adulthood. The study examined over 1,000 twin pairs, assessing their cognitive development starting at 7 months old through measures such as vocalization, attention span, and preference for novelty. Findings reveal that specific infant cognitive indicators can predict approximately 13% of the variability in cognitive performance at age 30, emphasizing the critical role of early environment and experiences.

This research underscores that the environment in early childhood significantly influences lifelong cognition, which may even impact the risk of developing dementia and other age-related cognitive decline. The study also explored genetic contributions by comparing identical and fraternal twins, finding that genetic influence increases with age while environmental effects diminish, although both remain important.

Furthermore, the use of polygenic scores, summarizing an individual’s genetic predisposition to intelligence, aligned closely with early-life assessments, illustrating the interconnectedness of genetics and environment. These insights suggest that early assessments could serve as valuable tools for identifying those at risk for cognitive challenges later in life and for tailoring interventions to maximize cognitive development from infancy.

Overall, this research advocates for heightened focus on early childhood environments and the potential for early cognitive tests to serve as lifelong indicators of cognitive health, offering pathways to proactive interventions and improved outcomes across the lifespan.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-cognitive-infancy-insight-intelligence-age.html