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Fluoride in drinking water has no effect on IQ or brain function, long-term study shows (twin-cities.umn.edu)
submitted 7 months ago by to c/science@mander.xyz
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Study.

The study, published in PNAS, examined Wisconsin state testing records, archival information about when Wisconsin cities began to fluoridate their water, and data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, which has followed a random sample of 10,317 high school seniors from 1957 through 2026. Key findings include:

  • There is no evidence supporting a connection between community water fluoridation and children’s IQ.
  • There is also no evidence supporting a connection between community water fluoridation and cognitive functioning at various points later in life.
  • Findings confirm evidence published in previous research which also used a national sample, but considered school achievement test scores instead of actual IQ scores.
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[–] 1 point 7 months ago (2 children)

The study suggests no change in IQ values, not no change when it comes to protecting your teeth. To copy an example from a previous comment:

IQ only measures the ability to solve problems and pattern-match. And I would assume IQ tests are taken after cavities are dealt with. It’s the same thing as if you tried to give an IQ test to someone who, in the past, has had a bacterial infection. Then, when the person is perfectly healthy, you give them an IQ test once, then some antibiotics, then another IQ test giving the same result as the first. You would not conclude that antibiotics are ineffective and should be banned!

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  • [–] 0 points 7 months ago (1 child)

    Wtf?

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  • [–] 1 point 7 months ago

    frongt noted that the fluoride is beneficial (for preventing tooth decay), while you state that the study denies this. This is untrue, as it just shows that fluoride doesn't affect IQ (which primarily focuses on measuring logical thinking). It does not look at how it protects against cavities, there are plenty of studies on that already!

    It’s the same thing as if you tried to give an IQ test to someone who, in the past, has had a bacterial infection. Then, when the person is perfectly healthy, you give them an IQ test once, then some antibiotics, then another IQ test giving the same result as the first. You would not conclude that antibiotics are ineffective and should be banned!

    Your argument would replace bacterial infection with cavities and antibiotics with fluoridised water. Like the example with antibiotics, it is not a reasonable conclusion to state that no change to IQ = fluoridation in water is ineffective.

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