US Study Finds Decline in Adult Cognitive Skills Since 2006

A large-scale study of 394,000 American adults conducted between 2006 and 2018 reported a decrease in several cognitive abilities, including logical reasoning, memory, and processing speed. The findings, published in the journal *Intelligence*, revive discussion of a possible "Flynn effect reversal," where the long‑observed rise in IQ test scores may be ending in developed nations. Researchers caution that the results do not imply a general drop in human intelligence, but rather reflect changes in specific test‑measured capacities. Potential explanations under consideration include lifestyle shifts, increased digital technology use, nutritional and environmental factors, and changes in educational practices, though no single cause has been confirmed.