Fig. 3.

Change in cardiovascular fitness between age 15 y and 18 y predicts intelligence scores. (A) Schematic presentation of the model. Note that the regression line is not perfectly straight in reality, but it has essentially this appearance in the various analyses. (B) From all subjects with physical education grades at age 15 y and cardiovascular fitness scores at age 18 y, the 10% of subjects with the highest and lowest changes in fitness scores compared with predicted scores were selected (<10th percentile; 10% lowest vs. predicted scores; >90th percentile, 10% highest vs. predicted scores; 10th-90th percentile, remaining 80%). Mean global intelligence, logical, verbal, visuospatial, and technical scores were compared among the 3 percentile groups and significant differences were found among all groups (P < 0.0001). The SDs were 1.81–1.97.