Higher intelligence is genetically linked with longevity

Epidemiological studies in different populations, in different countries,
and in different epochs consistently showed that high intelligence is
positively correlated with longevity. Despite the definitive association,
the reason of the linkage between higher intelligence and longevity has
remained unknown. Here, we show by using Drosophila
melanogaster that both higher intelligence and longevity are
genetically linked. The high intelligent D.
melanogaster (INT) lived longer than non-intelligent flies
(NINT), 26.40% and 21.35% in male and female, respectively. The
bidirectional selective breeding based on intelligence extended lifespans
gradually generation by generation in INT breeding and reverse in NINT
breeding. The INT of F12 generation lived longer than NINT of
F12 generation, 63.91% for male and 67.88% for female, as a
result from slower aging. Whole-genome analysis showed that the genetic
linkage of higher intelligence with longevity was determined by the genes
of the pathways of ribosome, autophagy, and genome stability.

不同人群、不同国家及不同时代的流行病学研究持续表明，高智力与长寿呈正相关。尽管存在明确关联，但高智力与长寿之间联系的原因仍不明确。本研究通过黑腹果蝇（Drosophila melanogaster）实验表明，高智力与长寿具有遗传关联。高智力黑腹果蝇（INT）的寿命长于非智力果蝇（NINT），雄性和雌性分别延长26.40%和21.35%。基于智力的双向选择育种显示，INT育种组的寿命逐代逐渐延长，而NINT育种组则相反。F12代的INT果蝇寿命显著长于同代NINT果蝇，雄性延长63.91%，雌性延长67.88%，这源于其衰老速度减缓。全基因组分析表明，高智力与长寿的遗传关联由核糖体、自噬及基因组稳定性通路的基因所决定。