Low IQ linked to suicide

　　Low IQ increases the risk of suicide in young men, according to new research.

　　A Swedish study published today in the British Medical Journal examined the association between intelligence test results for 987,308 men tested at age 18 between 1968 and 1994 and suicides documented through 1999.

　　A total of 2811 suicides occurred during follow-up and the risk of suicide was two to three times higher in those with lowest compared with the highest test scores.

　　The greatest risk was seen among subjects with low test scores and highly educated parents, which could represent a mismatch between parents' expectations and the offspring's ability.

　　The authos speculate that influences on neurodevelopment during childhood may affect a person's susceptibility to mental illness and suicide and cognitive ability may affect an individual's capacity to solve problems during times of crisis.

　　'More detailed studies are necessary to investigate possible pathways underlying the observed associations and their clinical implications,'  they conclude.