Wisdom and fluid intelligence are dissociable in healthy older adults

Abstract

Objectives: The relationship between wisdom and fluid intelligence (Gf) is poorly understood, particularly in older adults. We empirically tested the magnitude of the correlation between wisdom and Gf to help determine the extent of overlap between these two constructs. Design: Cross-sectional study with preregistered hypotheses and well-powered analytic plan (https://osf.io/h3pjx). Setting: Memory and Aging Center at the University of California San Francisco, located in the USA. Participants: 141 healthy older adults (mean age = 76 years; 56% female). Measurements: Wisdom was quantified using a well-validated self-report-based scale (San Diego Wisdom Scale or SD-WISE). Gf was assessed via composite measures of processing speed (Gf-PS) and executive functioning (Gf-EF). The relationships of SD-WISE scores to Gf-PS and Gf-EF were tested in bivariate correlational analyses and multiple regression models adjusted for demographics (age, sex, and education). Exploratory analyses evaluated the relationships between SD-WISE and age, episodic memory performance, and dorsolateral and ventromedial prefrontal cortical volumes on magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Wisdom showed a small, positive association with Gf-EF (r = 0.181 [95% CI 0.016, 0.336], p = .031), which was reduced to nonsignificance upon controlling for demographics, and no association with Gf-PS (r = 0.019 [95% CI −0.179, 0.216], p = .854). Wisdom demonstrated a small, negative correlation with age (r = −0.197 [95% CI −0.351, −0.033], p = .019), but was not significantly related to episodic memory or prefrontal volumes. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that most of the variance in wisdom (>95%) is unaccounted for by Gf. The independence of wisdom from cognitive functions that reliably show age-associated declines suggests that it may hold unique potential to bolster decision-making, interpersonal functioning, and other everyday activities in older adults.

Parents’ Wisdom and Adolescents’ Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Developmental Qualities

“…Yet, wiser fathers and mothers might place less emphasis on intellectual development than on growth in social intelligence and emotional competence, because they know that intelligence by itself is insufficient for wisdom development. Prior research found no or only a weak correlation between measures of wisdom and intelligence, particularly in adulthood (Ardelt, Gerlach et al, 2018;Glück et al, 2013;Lindbergh et al, 2021;Staudinger & Glück, 2011a;Staudinger, Lopez, & Baltes, 1997;Staudinger, Maciel, Smith, & Baltes, 1998;Staudinger & Pasupathi, 2003). A recent study suggests that intelligence is a necessary but not sufficient condition for wisdom development as many individuals with high intelligence scores are not wise (Glück & Scherpf, 2022).…”

Loneliness and Wisdom Are Negatively Associated in Neurologically Healthy Older Adults

“…Our study provides support for the claim that wisdom may protect against loneliness in older adults. The skills embodied by the construct of wisdom can possibly be harnessed and cultivated to develop effective interventions for older adults at risk of loneliness, especially given their dissociation from age-dependent fluid intelligence (Lindbergh et al, 2021). Additional research is needed to determine directional causality in the relationship between wisdom and loneliness and whether these associations hold in demographically diverse adult populations.…”

“…Quantitative and qualitative research indicates that wisdom may buffer against loneliness and mitigate some of its effects (Lee et al, 2019;Morlett Paredes et al, 2021), although causality has yet to be determined. Wisdom is also dissociated from fluid intelligence-which declines in older age, suggesting that wisdom can be maintained as a lifelong skillset (Lindbergh et al, 2021).…”

The Association between Trait Mindfulness and Metacognitive Efficiency in Healthy Older Adults

“…Instead, they adopt an automated and accepting approach toward their experiences, primarily engaging bottom-up processes. However, given that deficits in older adults often center around activities dependent on the prefrontal cortex, such as fluid intelligence (Lindbergh et al, 2021), mindfulness-based interventions designed to enhance attention monitoring can serve as valuable strategies, both in a preventive capacity and potentially as a mitigating measure against metacognitive decline. The primary aim of this research was to explore the relationship between trait mindfulness and metacognitive efficiency in older adults, with a broader goal of advancing the empirical understanding of the interplay between these constructs.…”