Editing Flynn effect (section)

===Infectious diseases===
{{See also|Parasite load#Host stress|Impact of health on intelligence}}
Eppig, Fincher, and Thornhill (2011) conducted a study looking at different US states found that states with a higher prevalence of [[Infection|infectious diseases]] had lower average IQ. The effect remained after controlling for the effects of wealth and educational variation.<ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=Eppig C, Fincher CL, Thornhill R |title=Parasite prevalence and the distribution of intelligence among the states of the USA |journal=Intelligence |volume=39 |issue=2–3 |pages=155–60 |year=2011 |doi=10.1016/j.intell.2011.02.008}}</ref>

Atheendar Venkataramani (2010) studied the effect of [[malaria]] on IQ in a sample of Mexicans. Malaria eradication during the birth year was associated with increases in IQ. It also increased the probability of employment in a skilled occupation. The author suggests that this may be one explanation for the Flynn effect and that this may be an important explanation for the link between national malaria burden and economic development.<ref>{{cite SSRN |vauthors=Venkataramani A |title=Early Life Exposure to Malaria and Cognition and Skills in Adulthood: Evidence from Mexico |date=September 18, 2010 |ssrn=1679164}}</ref> A literature review of 44 papers states that cognitive abilities and school performance were shown to be impaired in sub-groups of patients (with either cerebral malaria or uncomplicated malaria) when compared with healthy controls. Studies comparing cognitive functions before and after treatment for acute malarial illness continued to show significantly impaired school performance and cognitive abilities even after recovery. Malaria [[prophylaxis]] was shown to improve cognitive function and school performance in clinical trials when compared to placebo groups.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Fernando SD, Rodrigo C, Rajapakse S |title=The 'hidden' burden of malaria: cognitive impairment following infection |journal=Malar. J. |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=366 |year=2010 |pmid=21171998 |pmc=3018393 |doi=10.1186/1475-2875-9-366 |doi-access=free }}</ref>