"Breast is Best"

"Extended breast feeding linked to higher IQ and income in study"

By: Sandee LaMotte

Source: CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/18/health/breastfeeding-iq-income/index.html

      Breast feeding has been said to be the best option for babies. Past studies show that breast feeding is related to a 7.5 point increase in IQ for school aged children. It was also known to be linked with overall better IQ in adults who were breast fed as babies. Breast feeding is also deemed the better option (as opposed to formula or the like) because it is linked to lower mortality rates of babies and has smaller risk of leading to the contraction of milk-related diseases. So what is new?

Recently, the results of a 1982 Brazilian study on the results of breast feeding were released. It kept in touch with nearly 6,000 Brazilian mothers who breast fed their babies for an extended period of time (near twelve months) and recorded the results thirty years later. The thirty year length of the study makes it unique. The 68% of the study participants who they were able to get a response from showed nearly 4 points higher IQ and 20% more income than average income level people. Breast feed may be beneficial because of its long chain of polyunsaturated fatty acids, but the results of this study can be tied to a multitude of uncontrolled factors. 

       Regardless, the study is greatly important because it may benefit mothers from lower-income families who can not afford expensive formula or other costly milk alternatives for babies. Even if the increase in income and IQ in breast fed subjects is caused by other factors, if soon-to-be mothers catch wind of this news and demonstrate interest toward it, they would also watch for its positive changes in their children over the years. They would unconsciously out in more effort in order for their children to perform better in school and, in the long run, attain better paying jobs.