SCIENTISTS have discovered a link between our genes and quick thinking skills in middle and later life.
Researchers identified common genetic variants – changes in a person’s genetic code – that are related to how quickly a person is able to process new information.
It is the first time that scientists have found such a link.
The researchers say the finding could help understand how the brain works, and why some people develop mental decline, while others do not.
The Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) Consortium, which includes experts at University of Edinburgh, brought together data from 12 different countries.
Data from 30,000 people over 45 years old were analysed.
The participants – none of whom had dementia – took cognitive function tests that included tests of simple, repeated coding under pressure of time.
