Young people’s IQ scores have started to deteriorate after climbing steadily since World War II, a new study has found.

The fall, which equates to about seven points per generation, is believed to have begun with those born in 1975, according to the first authoritative study of the phenomenon.

The drop in scores marks the end of a trend — known as the Flynn effect — which has seen average IQs rise for the past 60 to 70 years by roughly 3 points a decade.

Scientists have described the results as impressive but pretty worrying, according to the Times.

The decline is to do with a difference in the way languages and maths are taught in schools, scientists have suggested.

However, it could also be down to people spending more time on technological devices instead of reading books.

Stuart Ritchie, a psychologist at the University of Edinburgh who did not take part in the research, told the newspaper, “This is the most convincing evidence yet of a reversal of the Flynn Effect.

“If you assume their model is correct, the results are impressive, and pretty worrying.”

However, IQ scores might have fallen since the turn of the millennium, according to previous studies.

Two British studies suggested that the fall was between 2.5 and 4.3 points every 10 years.

But due to limited research, their results were not widely accepted.

In the latest study Ole Rogeburg and Bernt Bratsberg, of the Ragnar Frisch Center for Economic Research in Oslo, found that Norwegian men’s IQs are lower than the scores of their fathers when they were the same age.

The pair analyzed the scores from a standard IQ test of over 730,000 men — who reported for national service between 1970 and 2009.

If you are worried, consider adding more fish to your children’s diet. U.S. scientists revealed in December 2017 that regularly eating fish improves children’s intelligence as well as helps them to sleep better.

They found that 9 to 11-year-olds who eat it at least once a week scored almost 5 points higher in IQ tests to those who “seldom” do.

Words to Learn 相关词汇

【下降】xiàjiàng decline a failing or gradual loss, deterioration

【逆转】nìzhuǎn reversal an adverse change of fortune

一项新研究发现，二战以后，年轻人的智力水平曾经历过一个稳步上升的阶段，此后，年轻人的智力水平开始不断下降。

对智力下降现象的首个权威研究称，智力下降是从1975年出生的那一代人开始的，平均每代人智商成绩下降7分。

智商成绩的下降标志着弗林效应的终结，弗林效应指过去六七十年间，平均每十年智商成绩上升3分。

据《泰晤士报》报道，科学家称研究结果“令人震撼”，但“相当令人担忧”。

科学家指出，智力下降与学校教授语言和数学的方法发生了改变有关。

但是，智力下降也可能是因为人们花在科技设备上的时间比看书的时间更多。

爱丁堡大学的心理学家斯图亚特·里奇告诉《泰晤士报》说：“这是弗林效应逆转的最令人信服的证据。”里奇没有参与这项研究。

“假如他们运用的模型是准确的，那么结果是令人震撼的，但又相当令人担忧。”

不过，先前的研究显示，智商成绩可能是从世纪之交开始下降的。

两项英国研究显示，智商成绩下降的幅度为每十年2.5到4.3分。

但由于研究范围有限，他们的研究结果没有被广泛接受。

挪威奥斯陆的拉格纳尔·弗里希经济研究中心的奥勒·罗格伯格和伯恩特·布拉茨伯格开展了一项新研究并发现，挪威男性的智商水平比他们父辈同一年龄段的智商水平更低。

他们分析了73万多人的标准智商测试成绩，这些人是在1970年到2009年间因为服兵役而接受测试的。

如果你担心的话，让孩子多吃点鱼吧。

美国科学家在2017年12月发布报告称，经常吃鱼可以提高孩子的智商，还能让他们睡得更香。科学家发现，9到11岁的孩子里面，每周至少吃一次鱼的人比几乎不吃鱼的人智商成绩高出近5分。(Chinadaily.com.cn)