OSLO — A major Norwegian study challenges long-held assumptions about wealth, education, and cognitive development, finding that IQ score declines began earliest and were steepest among the sons of high-income fathers. The 2024 study, which tracked 579,379 men, suggests that factors affecting cognitive development may be more pronounced in higher-income households. This challenges the assumption that wealthier families are insulated from negative cognitive trends.
Researchers examined IQ data across generations and found a surprising pattern. While lower-income groups initially showed gains from expanded access to upper-secondary education — which temporarily slowed their cognitive declines — the sons of affluent fathers did not experience the same buffer.
The study controlled for educational attainment and still found declines, indicating that other factors are at play. What might explain the trend? The study points to several possibilities: changes in parenting practices, increased screen time, or reduced reading.
These factors, the research suggests, may be more pronounced in higher-income households. The findings add to a growing body of research on how socioeconomic status interacts with cognitive development across generations.
The study does not claim that wealth itself causes cognitive decline. Rather, it suggests that the environment in which children grow up — including how families spend their time and resources — may be shifting in ways that affect cognitive outcomes. The findings challenge the assumption that more money automatically means better cognitive outcomes.
The study’s authors note that further research is needed to pinpoint exactly which environmental changes are driving the declines. But the evidence is clear that no income group is immune. The findings from Norway may not translate perfectly to other countries, but they offer a cautionary tale.
Wealth does not guarantee cognitive resilience, and the factors that shape young minds are evolving faster than researchers can track.
Sources
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