Why does IQ drop with age?

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another_1 wrote:

I guess it depends on what an IQ test is supposed to measure. If it's supposed to be some inherent trait that is unaffected by learning (like how fast your reflexes are), that would make sense. OTOH, a person's functioning in the world depends on more -- knowledge does matter. I.e. there's no History or Advanced Chemistry (or "how to deal with the DMV when they lose your check") sections on IQ tests.

It seems like measuring someones reflexes, which would decrease with age. OTOH, a basketball player with 10 years of experience with strategy and other knowledge may have an edge even if his reflexes are a little slower. So I guess my point is a slight IQ drop due to age probably doesn't matter much. You spend less time re-inventing the wheel, and know more tricky/clever solutions from having seen them before.

My IQ has always been all over the place. One test gives me one score, and another will have radically different results. The only common pattern across the tests is in the area of Verbal Intelligence.

I measure intelligence by what is produced by myself or another person in various projects. IQ tests seem too unrealiable. Wait another century, and maybe we'll have crafted a perfect test for measuring intelligence.

I've heard that IQ drops is some populations, particularly autistics and those born prematurely. The reason would be that developmental expectations increase but we don't learn them at the same pace. I've neve r heard IQ drops in childhood/adolescence in the general population though.

Because the measurement of IQ is complete crap in the first place?

IQ compares where you stand against your peers.

In childhood there is more variation in knowledge gained.

As you age the peer group has caught up.

So you are exactly as smart as you always were.

Just that everyone else has more knowledge than they did in early childhood.

The playing field has been equalized somewhat.

I'm not going to pretend to know what the exact formulas are for determining IQ, but here's what I do know and understand:

IQ scores are fluid. Your scoring on a test (right against wrong answers as a percentage) are absolute, but that is not your IQ. Your IQ comes from comparing your score with scores from everyone else in your age group.

For example, if you are 20 years old, and score 75% correct answers on the test, and the average score is 75% for everyone 20 years old, then your IQ is 100. If you take the test again, at 25 years and your score is 80%, and the average 25 year old's scores are also at 80%, your IQ is still 100.

What this means is that if between the age of twenty and twenty-five, your score doesn't increase, but everyone else's does, your score will drop below 100. It's all about averages within particular age groups. If your absolute score remains the same while the average score increases, your IQ score drops. If your absolute score increases by more than the average absolute score increase, your IQ will increase.

It's all about balancing your score against the average of people in your age group. I have no idea how the age groups are divided up (it could be by exact age, or by age ranges, I honestly don't know.)

The whole idea behind scoring in this manner presumes that everyone learns more as they age. Therefore, balancing scores from 50 year old's against 20 year old's doesn't make sense. Because of the way IQ's are determined, someone with an IQ of 120 at fifty years old is presumably "smarter" than someone at 20 years old with the same IQ.

For someone with an IQ of 120 at age twenty to share the same intelligence as someone at fifty with IQ of 120 would mean that the average twenty year old shares the intelligence level of the average fifty year old.

As I said, I DO NOT know what the formulas are that are used. I only know that these are the principles behind the scoring.

Progressive brain rot in old age.

ruveyn

I've heard this too though in my case, my IQ dropped due to an unfortunately traumatic accident from several years ago.Still, I'd say IQ can fluctuate in a person throughout his/her lifetime based upon various scenarios of educational experiences as well other instances of learning overall..

I don't think it's so much about IQ dropping, but becoming more "set in stone," as you get older. A lot of older people cannot understand what 2-3 generations coming up on them are doing (I'd imagine the extent of computers was a bit of a system shock for much of the older crowd). Pretty much, as you get older, you're less interested in learning and more interested in doing what you want, when you want, and how. Becoming set in your ways does not imply a lower IQ. As long as you're willing to learn and change, your IQ should remain fairly steady.

Your level of intelligence doesn't drop. As you grow older, you're expected to have more knowledge than you did when you were, say, 12. It compares you to your peers, as one of the above posters said.