While having a big-headed baby may not have been so comfortable at birth, here’s the silver lining to ponder while the doctor is down there with a needle and thread – larger head circumferences on babies are linked with higher intelligence and more success as adults.
That’s the latest from US scientists who have been gathering data on 500,000 Britons over the long term to discover links between their genes, their physical and mental health and the life they go on to lead.
They researchers from the UK Biobank project said: “Highly significant associations were observed between the cognitive test scores in the UK Biobank sample and many polygenic profile scores, including … intracranial volume, infant head circumference and childhood cognitive ability.” That’s scientist speak for big head = big smarts.
According to The Times in the UK, a key goal of the research is to unravel the complex links between brain function and DNA — one of neuroscience’s great challenges because so many genes are involved. And scientists hope that the research will be so accurate that it can even predict how likely a baby would be to go to university based on their DNA.
For those mums who have all their offspring’s measurements from birth, here are some numbers from the World Health Organisation to help you work out where your baby falls on the intelligence graph:
Boys head circumference at birth
Extra large – 38cm
Large – 35.5-37cm
Average – 34.5cm
Girls head circumference at birth
Extra large – 37.5cm
Large – 35-36.3cm
Average – 33.9cm
Where does your precious bundle fall on the cm:intelligence ratio?
