Athletes vs Non-Athletes IQ
The relationship between athletic activity and cognitive performance is increasingly well-established in neuroscience. Aerobic exercise in particular — the kind sustained by most athletic training — promotes neurogenesis in the hippocampus, increases BDNF production, improves cerebrovascular health, and enhances executive function. Multiple RCTs show that aerobic exercise programs cause measurable cognitive improvements in both children and adults. The athlete–non-athlete IQ gap reflects both these genuine causal effects and selection: sports require planning, self-regulation, and strategic thinking — cognitive capacities that overlap substantially with general intelligence.
Athletes
Typical range: 101–108
Athletes consistently score modestly higher on cognitive measures than non-athletes — particularly on executive function, processing speed, and spatial attention. Team sport athletes show stronger social cognition advantages; individual sport athletes show stronger sustained attention benefits.
Non-Athletes
Typical range: 96–102
Non-athletes average close to the population mean. Sedentary individuals show higher rates of cognitive decline with age, and low cardiovascular fitness correlates with lower executive function scores across multiple age groups. The cognitive gap between fit and unfit individuals is particularly pronounced at older ages.
Key Findings
- Athletes average approximately 4–5 IQ points higher than non-athletes on cognitive assessments.
- Aerobic exercise causes measurable hippocampal growth and BDNF increases — mechanisms directly tied to cognitive function.
- Children who participate in regular physical activity show 3–5% better performance on cognitive tests in RCT studies.
- Executive function (planning, self-regulation, cognitive flexibility) shows the strongest exercise-related improvements.
- Elite team sport athletes show particularly strong advantages on social cognition and adaptive decision-making tasks.
Verdict
Athletes score approximately 5 IQ points higher than non-athletes on average, with the relationship driven by both selection (athletic success often reflects the executive function and self-regulation that underpin cognitive performance) and causation (regular aerobic exercise demonstrably improves brain health). Exercise increases BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), promotes hippocampal neurogenesis, improves cerebral blood flow, and reduces inflammation — all mechanisms with established links to cognitive function. The cognitive benefits of regular athletic training are among the most robustly supported lifestyle–intelligence connections in neuroscience.
For more context, see what different IQ scores actually mean and explore famous people's IQ scores.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do athletes have higher IQs than non-athletes?
On average, modestly — approximately 4–5 IQ points. The gap reflects both genuine exercise-related cognitive benefits (BDNF, hippocampal growth, improved executive function) and selection effects (athletic success requires self-regulation and strategic thinking that correlate with intelligence).
Does exercise make you smarter?
Yes, with solid RCT evidence. Regular aerobic exercise increases BDNF, promotes hippocampal neurogenesis, improves cerebrovascular health, and enhances executive function. Studies in school-age children find 3–5% improvements in cognitive test scores from exercise programs. The benefits are strongest for executive function and weakest for crystallized intelligence.
What type of exercise is best for intelligence?
Aerobic exercise — running, swimming, cycling, team sports — has the most robust evidence for cognitive benefit. Resistance training shows some benefits for executive function, particularly in older adults. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) may provide similar or greater benefits to steady-state cardio in less time. Complexity matters: team sports that require strategic thinking add cognitive benefits beyond pure fitness.
Does being physically fit improve IQ scores?
Modestly, yes. Cardiovascular fitness correlates with IQ scores (r ≈ 0.1–0.2), and longitudinal studies show that improving fitness is associated with improved cognitive performance over time. The effect is too small to dramatically change IQ scores but is consistent and meaningful for long-term brain health.
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MyIQScores Editorial Team
Researchers in cognitive psychology, psychometrics & educational science
Last updated
May 10, 2026
All content on MyIQScores is reviewed for scientific accuracy against peer-reviewed research in cognitive psychology and psychometrics. Our editorial team cross-references each article with published literature before publication and updates pages whenever new research warrants a revision.