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BumRushDaShow

(170,477 posts)
Tue Apr 14, 2026, 02:58 AM Yesterday

Fluoride in drinking water has no effect on IQ or brain function, long-term study shows

Source: NBC News

April 13, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT


Tests of intelligence and brain function showed the same results whether or not people drank fluoridated water growing up, a highly anticipated, long-term study found.

The new research, published Monday in the respected Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the first to measure community water fluoridation exposure during childhood in the U.S. and any potential impact on cognition up to age 80. The results contradict claims made by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that fluoride is “industrial waste” associated with IQ loss.

Dr. Scott Tomar, head of the department of population oral health at the University of Illinois in Chicago, called the new study “quite significant.” “I think that the public can be assured,” Tomar, who was not involved with the new research, said. “There is no association with community water fluoridation and any measure of IQ or neurodevelopment.”

Fear over a link to lower IQ scores has been cited by a growing number of communities across the country that prohibit the addition of fluoride to drinking water. Two states — Utah and Florida — have enacted bans. Several other states, including Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri and Oklahoma, have similar legislation pending.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/kids-health/fluoride-water-children-iq-brain-cognition-study-rfk-jr-rcna267328



Link to PUBLICATION - Municipal water fluoridation, adolescent IQ, and cognition across the life course: Evidence from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study
22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Fluoride in drinking water has no effect on IQ or brain function, long-term study shows (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Yesterday OP
Explain MAGATS then ... live love laugh Yesterday #1
It's Not The Fluoride... GB_RN Yesterday #7
I think you are correct. (In a mostly partly joking way.) QueerDuck Yesterday #8
It's not fluoride in the water that's industrial waste Scott Alan Swaggerty Yesterday #2
Robert swims in it rpannier Yesterday #3
Have you ever seen a commie drink water? FiveFifteen Yesterday #4
MAGA, on the other hand... FiveFifteen Yesterday #5
This message was self-deleted by its author Chasstev365 Yesterday #6
This must have infuriated Republicans DFW Yesterday #9
For the first 32 years of my life I had no flouride in water. Spent al lot of money on teeth. A lot. Really a lot. twodogsbarking Yesterday #10
Same here. hamsterjill Yesterday #20
Tell it to General Ripper. n/t malthaussen Yesterday #11
Fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous communist plot we have ever had to face. thought crime 19 hrs ago #21
Funny how they ignore no prenatal care, preschool, class ratios and IQ link JT45242 Yesterday #12
I wish we lived in a world where nonsense required no response. NNadir Yesterday #13
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has banned a dangerous polar inorganic covalent compound. chouchou Yesterday #14
Now do heroin and brain worms. sleroy49 Yesterday #15
Luckily the MAGA-cult doesn't read scientific studies, too many hard words FakeNoose Yesterday #16
I'm shocked (to learn there is gambling here). nt BootinUp Yesterday #17
Jack-ass RFK Jr. wolfie001 Yesterday #18
"Fluoride in drinking water has no effect on IQ or brain function" LudwigPastorius Yesterday #19
I'd be interested in seeing studies of the effects of flouridated water on wnylib 17 hrs ago #22

GB_RN

(3,570 posts)
7. It's Not The Fluoride...
Tue Apr 14, 2026, 07:32 AM
Yesterday

Although, as many/most are from rural areas, there’s a definite correlation with fluoride (or rather, lack thereof) and their lack of teeth. Now, this part is just anecdotal, in my experience, there’s a direct correlation between lack of teeth and lack of IQ. And I’m only partly joking.

2. It's not fluoride in the water that's industrial waste
Tue Apr 14, 2026, 05:12 AM
Yesterday

It's the industrial waste in the water that's industrial waste... but Robert and MAHA will shrug at that though.

FiveFifteen

(109 posts)
5. MAGA, on the other hand...
Tue Apr 14, 2026, 06:49 AM
Yesterday

This is a really great piece. I gotta say, though, at the end of the day, this is just *embarrassing*. We have united all the country's worst, dumbest, most internet-poisoned dipshits into one organization & they are genuinely just embarrassing to contemplate.

David Roberts (@volts.wtf) 2026-04-12T18:16:59.633Z

Response to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

twodogsbarking

(18,946 posts)
10. For the first 32 years of my life I had no flouride in water. Spent al lot of money on teeth. A lot. Really a lot.
Tue Apr 14, 2026, 08:23 AM
Yesterday

Might be a connection but I am not Jesus.

hamsterjill

(17,642 posts)
20. Same here.
Tue Apr 14, 2026, 10:38 AM
Yesterday

Lived in a rural area that didn't provide it. Lots of money spent on dentists. Lots of time, and lots of absolute pain.

Moved to the city that did have it, and things improved, although I still have lingering issues at times.

I'm not Jesus either, but neither am I stupid.

thought crime

(1,643 posts)
21. Fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous communist plot we have ever had to face.
Wed Apr 15, 2026, 12:15 AM
19 hrs ago

"I can no longer sit back and allow Communist infiltration, Communist indoctrination, Communist subversion and the international Communist conspiracy to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids."

JT45242

(4,057 posts)
12. Funny how they ignore no prenatal care, preschool, class ratios and IQ link
Tue Apr 14, 2026, 08:40 AM
Yesterday

You want smarter kids...have free prenatal care.
Affordable child care with ratios that allow the child to be read to.
Universal preK with qualified teachers.
Fully funded reading programs with student teacher ratios that don't look like long shots at the Kentucky derby.
School library with money for books.

All those will effectively increase the nurture side of IQ

chouchou

(3,184 posts)
14. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has banned a dangerous polar inorganic covalent compound.
Tue Apr 14, 2026, 08:45 AM
Yesterday

Warning...Warning (H2O)

FakeNoose

(41,887 posts)
16. Luckily the MAGA-cult doesn't read scientific studies, too many hard words
Tue Apr 14, 2026, 09:03 AM
Yesterday

So we Democrats can keep this info to ourselves and benefit from it. We just keep getting smarter all the time.

wolfie001

(7,790 posts)
18. Jack-ass RFK Jr.
Tue Apr 14, 2026, 09:28 AM
Yesterday

That's the only message drawn from this debacle. The old drug abuser and drug pusher used his family name well to get to the pinnacle of society. A lot of wreckage in his wake. Stupid motherfucker.

LudwigPastorius

(14,806 posts)
19. "Fluoride in drinking water has no effect on IQ or brain function"
Tue Apr 14, 2026, 10:00 AM
Yesterday

But, they didn't test our "precious bodily fluids" did they?

Hunh?!

wnylib

(26,200 posts)
22. I'd be interested in seeing studies of the effects of flouridated water on
Wed Apr 15, 2026, 01:31 AM
17 hrs ago

the rate of hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) is treated with fluoride to reduce thyroid activity. If someone with normal thyroid function drinks flouridated water over a long period, could it reduce their thyroid function? I don't know of any studies on that.

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