Babies breastfed for longer ’have higher IQs’

Babies breastfed for longer have higher IQs, say researchers

Children who are breastfed for longer go on to become more intelligent, educated, and successful adults, a study has found.

Researchers analysed breastfeeding data on almost 3,500 babies who were given IQ tests when they reached the age of 30 and provided information on educational attainment and income.

Dr Bernardo Lessa Horta, from the Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil, said: “Our study provides the first evidence that prolonged breastfeeding not only increases intelligence until at least the age of 30 years but also has an impact at an individual and societal level by improving educational attainment and earning ability.

“What is unique about this study is the fact that, in the population we studied, breastfeeding was not more common among highly educated, high-income women, but was evenly distributed by social class.”

The researchers took account of factors that might influence IQ, such as genetics, birthweight, and parental schooling

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