In a study cited in the text (Deary et al., 2015), a cohort of individuals was given an IQ test at age 11 and again at age 79. The authors of this study reported that individuals with a certain variant of the APOE gene showed a decrease in IQ scores between ages 11 and 79, whereas individuals with another variant of this gene showed no change in IQ scores between ages 11 and 79. These results suggest that ______.
A) diet and exercise are solely responsible for staving off neurocognitive impairment
B) everyone will show at least some impairment in cognitive by age 79
C) genetics play a role in how IQ is maintained across the lifespan
D) there is no obvious role for genetics in neurocognitive functioning

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The study suggests that genetics play a role in how IQ is maintained across the lifespan, as different variants of the APOE gene showed different outcomes in IQ scores between ages 11 and 79. The study did not suggest that diet and exercise are solely responsible for staving off neurocognitive impairment, that everyone will show impairment in cognitive functioning, or that there is no role for genetics in neurocognitive functioning.

In a Study Cited in the Text (Deary Et Al