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Study Reveals Cognitive Ability Stabilizes After Age 3

9/15/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A study from the Colorado Longitudinal Twin Study finds cognitive ability stabilizes after age 3.
Early infant cognition shows weak correlations with adult cognitive ability, while scores from age 7 onward are strongly correlated.
The study assessed 1,098 participants at ages 1-2, 3, 7, 16, and 29.
Genetic factors account for 22% of adult cognitive ability variation, with 10% from shared environmental influences.
Findings emphasize the role of cognitive ability in academic and career success, though results may not apply to populations outside Colorado.

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Story summary

A study from the Colorado Longitudinal Twin Study finds cognitive ability stabilizes after age 3.
Early infant cognition shows weak correlations with adult cognitive ability, while scores from age 7 onward are strongly correlated.
The study assessed 1,098 participants at ages 1-2, 3, 7, 16, and 29.
Genetic factors account for 22% of adult cognitive ability variation, with 10% from shared environmental influences.
Findings emphasize the role of cognitive ability in academic and career success, though results may not apply to populations outside Colorado.