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Correlation does not equal causation but the first thing that stands out to me among these two articles today about Mathematicians who've won Field Medals is their tenacious appetites for literature of all sorts as children.

I think it's incredibly important to note the diversity of subjects consumed and the importance of literature in these children's upbringing.

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I think Stanford's undergrad college admission's essay prompt asking about "intellectual vitality" says it best.

I'd generalize your point to these mathematicians having such intellectual vitality from an early age and demonstrating it or pursuing it in some way or another. This is distinct from developing this vitality later in their childhood.

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