Citation

Batty GD, Deary IJ, Macintyre S. J. Epidemiol. Community Health 2006; 60(10): 872-874.

Affiliation

MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, 4 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow G12 8RZ, UK. david-b@msoc.mrc.gla.ac.uk

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/jech.2005.045039

PMID

16973534

PMCID

PMC2566055

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between scores on IQ tests in childhood and alcohol induced hangovers in middle aged men and women. Design, Setting, and PARTICIPANTS: A cohort of 12 150 people born in Aberdeen (Scotland) who took part in a school based survey in 1962 when IQ test scores were extracted from educational records. Between 2000 and 2003, 7184 (64%) responded to questionnaire inquiries regarding drinking behaviour. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self reported hangovers attributable to alcohol consumption on two or more occasions per month. RESULTS: Higher IQ scores at 11 years of age were associated with a lower prevalence of hangovers in middle age (OR(per one SD advantage in IQ score); 95% CI: 0.80; 0.72, 0.89). This relation was little affected by adjustment for childhood indicators of socioeconomic position (0.82; 0.74, 0.91) but was considerably attenuated after control for adult variables (fully adjusted model: 0.89; 0.79, 1.01). CONCLUSIONS: Higher childhood IQ was related to a lower prevalence of alcohol induced hangovers in middle aged men and women. The IQ-hangover effect may at least partially explain the link between early life IQ and adult mortality. This being the first study to examine this relation, more evidence is required.

Language: en