Studies
Study Finds Intelligence May Be Predictable by 7 Months
Study Predicts Infant Intelligence: What New Parents Should Know About Cognitive Development
New parents often search for signs of brilliance—a babbled word, a wave, or familiar face recognition sparks high hopes quickly.
However, what if a study predicts infant intelligence accurately enough to forecast adult IQ by observing babies at just seven months?
A Major Long-Term Study Investigates Early Cognitive Potential
The University of Colorado Boulder recently conducted a groundbreaking study involving over 500 families of twins tracked over multiple decades.
Their goal was to discover how early cognitive traits in infancy relate to IQ outcomes in adulthood—specifically around age 30.
This extensive research, titled Stability of General Cognitive Ability from Infancy to Adulthood, made headlines around the scientific and parenting communities.
By using twins—both fraternal and identical—the study could isolate genetic factors from shared environmental influences in development.
Because identical twins share all genes and fraternal twins only share 50%, their IQ comparisons reveal the role of genetics versus environment.
According to lead author Dr. Daniel Gustavson, shared environments include home routines, neighborhood factors, and school experiences over time.
This unique setup allowed researchers to analyze exactly when genetics begin to dominate in influencing cognitive outcomes long-term.
How the Study Predicts Infant Intelligence from Babyhood to Adulthood
The team tracked children’s cognitive abilities at seven and nine months, again at age one, and then every year through age 17.
In adulthood, participants continued assessments every five years into their 30s, giving researchers decades of data across multiple life stages.
The early phase focused on tools like novelty preference (toy interest), babbling, eye tracking, mood, activity, and problem-solving tasks.
These infant-based scores predicted small percentages of later IQ outcomes—but became more reliable by ages three to sixteen.
At that point, genetic influence began increasing significantly, with environment accounting for only about 10% of long-term IQ variance.
Notably, the study predicts infant intelligence in early life but also shows how growing children respond dynamically to life changes.
Thus, even when early scores seemed predictive, other experiences, environments, and interventions still impacted final outcomes in major ways.
Genes Aren’t Destiny: Intelligence Can Be Shaped Over Time
Despite the study’s findings, Dr. Gustavson stresses that high heritability does not mean intelligence is fixed or unchangeable over time.
Instead, it means certain traits may be easier to influence than others, especially when parents use effective learning environments early.
The study predicts infant intelligence, but it also confirms how much environment shapes learning capacity, especially before age three.
So, instead of feeling helpless, parents should focus on meaningful ways to support brain development across every stage of early childhood.
To help clarify what that looks like in practice, we spoke with psychologist Dr. Sara Douglas and pediatrician Dr. Heather Gosnell.
They offer practical strategies parents can use daily to improve their child’s chances of healthy, balanced cognitive growth long term.
Stimulate Your Baby’s Brain with Sensory Exploration
Dr. Douglas recommends exposing babies to varied textures, sounds, patterns, and objects during daily routines to support cognitive growth early.
Changing the environment weekly keeps their senses engaged and encourages natural learning curiosity from the earliest months of development.
Try switching toys, showing colorful patterns, or playing music in different tones and rhythms to help broaden sensory and motor experience.
These basic changes support brain connections that prepare children to handle more complex learning experiences as they grow older.
Each small act of sensory variety strengthens the building blocks of future intelligence in ways children naturally understand and enjoy.
Consistent Interaction Matters More Than High-Tech Gadgets
According to Dr. Gosnell, regular parent-child interaction has greater impact than expensive toys, tablets, or formal classes in babyhood.
Daily routines like reading, talking, and playing form the foundation for future vocabulary, memory, and attention skills in young children.
She recommends reading aloud for 20 minutes each day, starting in infancy and continuing well through early school years when possible.
Narrating daily tasks—like folding laundry, cooking, or grocery shopping—introduces children to language in real-time, meaningful contexts consistently.
Also, avoid screen time entirely before 18 months, and when introduced, co-view shows to help interpret meaning and monitor comprehension.
Don’t Panic Over Missed Milestones or Development Delays
While the study predicts infant intelligence, experts emphasize that late development in certain areas does not equal long-term limitations.
“Most late talkers catch up by ages four to seven with proper support, including speech therapy if needed,” Dr. Gosnell confirms.
Short attention spans are also typical and do not necessarily indicate future attention issues or academic delays in preschool years.
Every child develops uniquely. Intelligence is multifaceted, influenced by creativity, emotional growth, problem solving, and adaptive social behavior equally.
Dr. Douglas adds that IQ isn’t everything. “Traits like kindness, empathy, and listening are often more important than cognitive measures.”
Parents should aim for well-rounded development by fostering strong emotional bonds and a safe, supportive space for expression and growth.
Early Intelligence is Just One Piece of the Puzzle
It’s tempting to view infant intelligence as predictive perfection, but the bigger picture involves personality, resilience, and curiosity too.
Although the study predicts infant intelligence, it doesn’t guarantee a child’s future success or character development entirely.
Families can use the research as a guide—not a rule—to create thoughtful routines that enhance learning and emotional wellness simultaneously.
And remember: confidence, love, and responsive parenting often matter more than academic skills when nurturing healthy, happy children for life.
Explore more parenting research, child development tips, and expert insights by visiting other featured articles right here on this website.