title: Demographic and Lifestyle Characteristics, but Not Apolipoprotein E Genotype, Are Associated with Intelligence among Young Chinese College Students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intelligence is an important human feature that strongly affects many life outcomes, including health, life-span, income, educational and occupational attainments. People at all ages differ in their intelligence but the origins of these differences are much debated. A variety of environmental and genetic factors have been reported to be associated with individual intelligence, yet their nature and contribution to intelligence differences have been controversial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the contribution of apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype, which is associated with the risk for Alzheimer's disease, as well as demographic and lifestyle characteristics, to the variation in intelligence.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 607 Chinese college students aged 18 to 25 years old were included in this prospective observational study. The Chinese revision of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (the fourth edition, short version) was used to determine the intelligence level of participants. Demographic and lifestyle characteristics data were obtained from self-administered questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant association was found between APOE polymorphic alleles and different intelligence quotient (IQ) measures. Interestingly, a portion of demographic and lifestyle characteristics, including age, smoking and sleep quality were significantly associated with different IQ measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that demographic features and lifestyle characteristics, but not APOE genotype, are associated with intelligence measures among young Chinese college students. Thus, although APOE ε4 allele is a strong genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, it does not seem to impact intelligence at young ages.
authors.affiliation: Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, Medical College, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Fen
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, Medical College, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
authors.forename: Zichen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, Medical College, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
authors.forename: Tingting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, Medical College, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
authors.forename: Zhen-Lian
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The first affiliated hospital of Xiamen university, Xiamen, 361003, China.
authors.forename: Yiwei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, United States of America.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Heckman
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, United States of America.
authors.forename: Nancy N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Diehl
authors.affiliation: Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, Medical College, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
authors.forename: Yun-Wu
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, Medical College, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.
authors.forename: Huaxi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, Medical College, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.|Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, United States of America.
authors.forename: Guojun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000235:genetics*; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E