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Intelligence Averages Linked to Regional Infectious Disease Burden

智力平均值与地区传染病状况相关

Over the years, people have put forth a lot of theories to explain why intelligence differs, from person to person and even around the world. Health, wealth, schooling, nutrition, and even climate have all come up. Now, researchers at the University of New Mexico suggest that parasites might play a role. They find that the prevalence of infectious diseases can be a powerful predictor of regional smarts. Their work appears in the Proceedings of the Royal Society.

多年以来，人们提出了许多理论来解释人与人之间，甚至是全世界范围内人们的智力为何各不相同。健康、财富、教育程度、营养好坏、甚至是气候条件都曾被列为影响智力的因素。如今，新墨西哥大学的研究人员又提出来一个新因素——寄生虫。他们发现传染病的流行会极大影响该地区的整体智力水平。他们的研究成果发表在《英国皇家学会会报》上。

It takes a lot of energy to build and operate a human brain. This needy organ commands 87 percent of the body's metabolic budget in infants, and about 25 percent in adults. So things that sap our energy are likely to hinder our intellectual growth. That's why malnourishment's not good for the mind.

大脑的形成发育及运转需要大量的能量。这个有如“油老虎”般的器官会“吃掉”婴儿新陈代谢所产生能量的87%，而成人新陈代谢所产生能量的1/4左右会被它“吃掉”。因此，消耗我们能量的东西很可能会阻碍我们的智力发展。这也正是为什么营养不良会对智力发育不利。

But what about parasites? Fighting off nasty bugs can take a lot out of you. So the scientists got to wondering whether excessive infections might correlate with impaired cognitive development. Looking at IQs from around the world, they found that high levels of infectious disease go hand in hand with lower average national intelligence.

可这又干寄生虫什么事呢？消灭这些令人讨厌的虫子会使你疲惫不堪。于是，科学家们就想知道过度感染是否会与人的认知能力受损密切相关。在研究了世界各地人们的智商情况后，科学家们发现，传染病高发国家往往伴随着较低的平均智力水平。

Although the authors have not demonstrated cause-and-effect, it's nice to think that taking down parasites could bring up our IQs.

尽管科学家们在研究报告中并未论证其因果关系，不过，消灭寄生虫能提高我们的智商，这个想法倒是不错。

-Karen Hopkin

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