The Claim

Population-level declines in phenotypic IQ in Denmark and Norway are temporally associated with prior declines in dietary protein quality, with peak correlations observed when protein intake was measured 7–11 years before IQ testing, indicating a potential link between early childhood nutrition and cognitive development.

Source: Back to the pre-industrial age? FAOSTAT statistics of food supply reveal radical dietary changes accompanied by declining body height, rising obesity rates, and declining phenotypic IQ in affluent Western countries

What the research says

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Supports
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Correlation
1 study reviewed
In plain English

In Denmark and Norway, decreases in average IQ scores over time have been linked to lower quality of dietary protein consumed 7 to 11 years earlier, suggesting that nutrition during early childhood may affect cognitive outcomes later in life.

See the scientific wording

Population-level declines in phenotypic IQ in Denmark and Norway are temporally associated with prior declines in dietary protein quality, with peak correlations occurring when protein intake was measured 7–11 years before IQ testing, suggesting early childhood nutrition may influence cognitive development.

What the research says

1 study

  1. Study: Back to the pre-industrial age? FAOSTAT statistics of food supply reveal radical dietary changes accompanied by declining body height, rising obesity rates, and declining phenotypic IQ in affluent Western countries

    The study shows that when people ate less high-quality protein like meat and eggs, kids grew shorter and, over time, average IQ scores also dropped—suggesting what kids eat early in life can affect how smart they become.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

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