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 Brain begets brawn, a new study suggests. 

New research reveals a strong link between intelligence in early adulthood to midlife physical performance in men.

Researchers at the Center for Healthy Aging and the Department of Public Health at the University of Copenhagen analyzed data of 2,848 Danish males born between 1953 and 1961.

"Our study clearly shows that the higher intelligence score in early adulthood, the stronger the participants' back, legs and hands are in midlife. Their balance is also better. Former studies have taught us that the better the results of these midlife tests, the greater the chance of avoiding a decrease in physical performance in old age," researcher Rikke Hodal Meincke from the Center for Healthy Aging and the Department of Public Health, said in a news release.

Study data revealed that every 10-point increase in intelligence score correlated with 0.5 kg increase in lower back force, 1 cm increase in jumping height 0.7 kg increase in hand-grip strength, 3.7 percent improved balance, and 1.1 more chair-rises in 30 seconds

"A feasible explanation for this connection between male intelligence in early adulthood and their midlife physical performance could be that people with a higher intelligence score find it easier to understand and interpret health information and thus have a healthier lifestyle, they may, for instance, exercise more regularly. Exercise can thus be viewed as a mechanism that explains the connection between intelligence and physical performance," Meincke concluded.

The findings are published in the Journal of Aging and Health.