We all have that one friend who over indulges on alcohol. Maybe it seems like they’re kinda dopey because they’re drunk all of the time. But are our loved one lushes actually dumber than those of us who drink in moderation? Researchers in Sweden say maybe!
According to CBS, in a recent study published in the journal Alcoholism Clinical & Experimental Research 50,000 men between the ages of 18 to 21 were examined for their IQ scores and drinking habits. These men were enlisted by the government for military service between 1969 and 1970; their drinking habits were measured using questionnaires conducted during their induction into the military. Researchers found that a young adult male’s risk of heavy drinking increases 20% for every notch lower on the IQ scale. And get this — their risk of binge drinking increased by 9& for every drop in IQ scores. “We found that lower results on IQ tests are associated with higher consumption of alcohol measured in terms of both total alcohol intake and binge drinking,” the authors wrote.
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The lead author, a doctoral student at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm named Sara Sjolund, explainer that a higher IQ score might mean that the participant makes healthier life choices, resulting in abstaining from heavy drinking. (We would also like to note that IQ is not the only method of measuring intelligence!)
It’s also worth noting that the study did not examine any female participants, Tech Times reports. Therefore, these findings apply to men only. (Kinda makes sense, right, ladies?)
