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  • Breastfeeding at six months boosts children’s IQ and academic skills into adolescence

    Breastfeeding at six months boosts children’s IQ and academic skills into adolescence

    A UK study finds that children breastfed at six months show measurable gains in IQ, reading, and math skills, with unique benefits for language and conversation.

    Study: Differences in Neurocognitive Development Between Children Who Had Had No Breast Milk and Those Who Had Had Breast Milk for at Least 6 Months. Image Credit: fizkes / Shutterstock

    In a recent article in the journal Nutrients, researchers at the University of Bristol, UK, examined the associations between breastfeeding at six months of age and a wide range of neurocognitive outcomes until late adolescence.

    Their findings suggest that, despite demographic and social influences, more than 40 outcomes, including better academic skills, higher intelligence quotient (IQ) scores, and improved speech skills, may be associated with breastfeeding.

    Background

    Previous studies have explored the impact of breastfeeding on children’s cognitive and behavioral development; however, the results have been inconsistent. Some studies have shown clear benefits, while others have reported mixed or no effects, often due to limited sample sizes or variations in measurement tools.

    One of the strongest pieces of evidence comes from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in Belarus, which demonstrated better verbal IQ, vocabulary, writing, and reading skills in children whose mothers received breastfeeding support, with improvements persisting into adolescence. However, no behavioral differences were noted between the intervention and control groups.

    Systematic reviews largely support a positive association between breastfeeding and IQ, and some extend this to executive function, cognition, and behavior; however, the effects are typically minor. Analyses comparing breastfeeding durations suggest that breastfeeding beyond 6 months provides additional benefits. Larger observational studies also point to wider effects.

    For example, Scottish data on 177,000 children found lower risks of learning difficulties among breastfed children, while Japanese and Australian cohorts reported reduced developmental delays and enhanced language and intelligence outcomes.

    However, despite consistent findings for IQ, there has been limited exploration of other neurocognitive consequences that rely on large datasets.

    About the study

    The study used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), which recruited over 14,500 pregnant women in the UK. Mothers and partners completed questionnaires during pregnancy and after birth, providing data on infant feeding and background characteristics.

    Breastfeeding status was assessed at 4 weeks, 6 months, and 15 months. For this analysis, breastfeeding at six months was the main exposure, without distinguishing between exclusive and partial breastfeeding.

    Several confounders were included to account for social and demographic influences, specifically maternal and paternal education, maternal age at birth, birth order, housing tenure, delivery mode, and maternal smoking during pregnancy. These factors are known to influence both breastfeeding practices and child outcomes.

    Neurocognitive outcomes were assessed through 373 continuous measures collected from infancy through adolescence via parent, teacher, and self-reports, as well as direct testing by ALSPAC staff.

    Multivariable linear regression was used to adjust for confounders. Missing data were not imputed due to the likelihood of non-random patterns, with some outcomes showing up to 62% missingness (e.g., IQ at age 15 years). Researchers applied a two-stage statistical screening process, requiring an initial unadjusted p<0.0001 and then an adjusted p<0.001 threshold for results to be considered significant.

    Key findings

    Of the 11,337 mothers who responded at six months, 28.7% were still breastfeeding, 24.4% had never breastfed, and 46.9% had stopped before six months. Analyses focused on children who were breastfed at 6 months compared with those who were never breastfed; children who stopped breastfeeding before six months were excluded. Out of 373 neurocognitive measures, 42 outcomes showed significant adjusted associations.

    Early development tests indicated few lasting differences, with fine motor skills at ages 30 and 42 months being the only preschool traits strongly associated with breastfeeding. IQ consistently showed positive effects, as children breastfed for six months scored higher on verbal, performance, and total IQ at ages 8 and 15, with mean gains of approximately 4.1 to 5.1 IQ points.

    Reading ability also showed robust associations across multiple measures, including national assessments, while spelling associations were weaker. Language outcomes were mixed, but significant improvements were observed in pragmatic conversational skills at age nine, as measured by the Children’s Communication Checklist (CCC).

    Breastfed children performed better in mathematics on both teacher and national assessments, but similar associations for science did not reach the strict significance threshold (p<0.001).

    Behavioural benefits were limited, though breastfed children showed reduced hyperactivity and lower activity levels in preschool years. Additional findings included a higher likelihood of right-handedness and a more internal locus of control at age eight.

    Conclusions

    This study found that breastfeeding for six months was linked to higher IQ, improved reading and math performance, stronger fine motor skills, and better conversational abilities, with weaker associations for behaviour and personality traits.

    Notably, pragmatic speech improvements at age nine emerged as a novel finding. Results largely align with previous trials and reviews, reinforcing the intellectual benefits of breastfeeding.

    Strengths include the population-based design, objective teacher and test data, and adjustment for multiple confounders, including both parents’ education. Recording feeding at six months minimized recall bias.

    However, limitations include attrition, a predominantly White European cohort that limits generalizability, reliance on continuous outcomes only, and the possibility that stringent statistical thresholds (p < 0.0001 followed by p < 0.001) may have obscured some real associations.

    In conclusion, breastfeeding for six months was consistently associated with long-term cognitive advantages in this cohort, without evidence of harm. While causality cannot be confirmed, the findings support the promotion of breastfeeding as beneficial for children’s neurocognitive development.

    Journal reference:

    • Differences in Neurocognitive Development Between Children Who Had Had No Breast Milk and Those Who Had Had Breast Milk for at Least 6 Months. Goulding, N., Northstone, K., Taylor, C.M., Emmett, P., Iles-Caven, Y., Gregory, J., Gregory, S., Golding, J. Nutrients (2025). DOI: 10.3390/nu17172847, https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/17/2847

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  • Vote: Who was the Player of the Day on September 1?

    Vote: Who was the Player of the Day on September 1?

    The official EuroBasket app

    TAMPERE (Finland) – With the penultimate gameday in Groups A and B at FIBA EuroBasket 2025 wrapped up, fans in Riga and Tampere were treated to another round of standout performances.

    But who shined the brightest on Monday?

    Cast your vote in the fan poll below and tell us who deserves to be named Player of the Day.

    Nikola Vucevic at last connected team success with his stellar individual performance, as Montenegro finally picked up their first win, 87-81 over Sweden. The veteran was outstanding, scoring 23 points, grabbing 15 rebounds, dishing out 4 assists, and blocking 3 shots in a sublime all-around performance with an efficiency valuation of 40.

    Check out related articles

    Vucevic stars as Montenegro keep Round of 16 hopes alive

    Germany stay perfect with biggest win since 1969

    Pelle Larsson was on the other side of the action, as Sweden had their first opportunity to secure a spot in the knockout stage but couldn’t capitalize. Despite the setback, Larsson delivered an impressive performance, finishing with 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in the loss.

    Tristan Da Silva found his way into the Top Performers lineup as Germany once again put on an offensive clinic and downed Great Britain 120-57 for the biggest EuroBasket win since 1963. The forward registered a double-double of 18 points and 10 assists, also grabbing five rebounds and blocking two shots.

    Alperen Sengun in contention for the Player of the Day? What else is new as Türkiye’s talisman once again did a little bit of everything with 21 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in an easy 84-64 victory against Estonia that saw Türkiye climb to 4-0.

    Serbia also continued their perfect streak defeating Czechia 82-60, as Svetislav Pesic mixed things up with qualification for the Round of 16 secured. Aleksa Avramovic rose above the rest, coming up with 14 points, 3 rebounds and 8 assists in under 23 minutes of action.

    FIBA

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  • Best Apple iPad deal: pple iPad 11-inch is under $300 for Labor Day

    Best Apple iPad deal: pple iPad 11-inch is under $300 for Labor Day

    SAVE $50: The Apple iPad 11-inch is on sale for $299 at Amazon. That’s $50 off its list price for Labor Day.


    The Labor Day deals just keep coming, with a number of popular Apple items on sale for a limited time. You can find record-low prices on MacBooks, Apple Watches, iPads, and much more.

    The Apple iPad 11-inch is not at its best-ever price, but it’s not far off. As of Sept. 1, the Apple iPad 11-inch (WiFi, 128GB) is on sale for $299 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $349. That shaves $50 off the list price, and is only $20 away from the record-low we saw over Prime Day. We don’t expect to see anything better for this iPad until October Prime Day or Black Friday.

    SEE ALSO:

    Amazon’s Labor Day sale is live with lowest-ever prices on Apple, Samsung, and much more

    The Apple iPad 11-inch is Mashable’s top pick for a budget model in our roundups of the best iPads. Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino said, “Even though its tech is basic compared to the advanced iPad Air and Pro, it’s great for someone who wants a portable screen for streaming, playing games, and reading. It’s also a nice choice if you’re interested in using your tablet as a laptop, but don’t want to spend a ton of money.”

    Mashable Deals

    Score the Apple iPad 11-inch for under $300 this Labor Day.

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  • Gayle King Tells Spike Lee What She Thinks of His New Film

    Gayle King Tells Spike Lee What She Thinks of His New Film

    logo for the world according to gayle

    “The World According to Gayle” is Oprah Daily’s video series spotlighting all things Gayle each and every month. Our editor at large is sharing her favorites of the moment, from buzzy new albums to comedy tours you’ll want to experience for yourself. Check back each month to see the latest!


    We’re in the month of September, so autumn is officially upon us. And with the change of season comes a fresh list of all the things to do and see. First up to add to your to-watch list is Highest 2 Lowest, the new crime thriller from the dynamic duo Spike Lee and Denzel Washington, which will be available to stream on Apple TV+ starting on September 5. And don’t forget to tune in to this year’s Emmy Awards on September 14 (I’ll be on the red carpet for CBS, where you can watch live, or stream from Paramount+). Ed Sheeran and Mariah Carey fans (that’s me!), get ready! Sheeran’s out with a new album, Play, which is available on September 12 wherever you get your music. And Carey, who is releasing Here for It All on September 26, will give us 11 brand-new songs. Polo Ralph Lauren recently released a new clothing collection celebrating the Oak Bluffs community in Martha’s Vineyard—if you haven’t gotten your hands on the collection yet, there’s still time to shop. Lastly, would it even be an episode of The World According to Gayle if we didn’t include food? This month, we’re taking a pancake tour, and you won’t want to miss these spots. Here’s this month’s video below.

    gayle king, ed sheeran's new album play, pancakes, polo ralph lauren oak bluffs collection

    I want to hear from you. Let me know what you think of my list on Oprah’s Insider Community. And what should I be looking forward to next month?

    Headshot of Gayle King

    Gayle King is cohost of CBS Mornings. An accomplished journalist, King interviews top newsmakers and delivers original reporting to CBS Mornings and all CBS News broadcasts and platforms. She is also editor at large of Oprah Daily and hosts “Gayle King in the House,” a live, weekly radio show on SiriusXM. Since joining CBS News in 2011, King has conducted countless revealing and news-making interviews with world leaders, including former president Barack Obama, political figures, including Representative John Lewis’s final interview, and numerous celebrities, including Barbra Streisand, Bruce Springsteen, and Billie Eilish.

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  • Chloë Grace Moretz marries longtime girlfriend Kate Harrison

    Chloë Grace Moretz marries longtime girlfriend Kate Harrison

    Moretz and Kate Harrison, a model and photographer, have been dating since 2018.

    The couple announced their engagement on New Year’s Day this year on Instagram.

    Before their private ceremony, the couple allowed Vogue magazine to photograph the final fittings of their wedding gowns, designed by Nicolas Ghesquière for Louis Vuitton.

    Chloë Grace Moretz tied the knot with her longtime girlfriend over Labor Day weekend.

    The “Kick-Ass” actor married model and photographer Kate Harrison during a private ceremony, reports Vogue, which was on site when the brides were doing the final fitting in Paris for their custom Louis Vuitton wedding dresses.

    Moretz posted photos of herself on Instagram rocking a baby blue gown along with images of Harrison wearing a white dress with a sweetheart neckline and a birdcage veil. Both gowns were designed by Nicolas Ghesquière, longtime artistic director for Louis Vuitton’s women’s collections.

    “It just feels like me,” Moretz told Vogue. “I never really envisioned a wedding dress in my mind growing up, so when we started talking about what that would look like, I knew I would do something non-traditional, and not wear white, and kind of have it feel different, and I think it really does.”

    Chloë Grace Moretz, left, and her now-wife, Kate Harrison, right, with Huma Abedin, center at the 2024 Democracy Heroes at Rockefeller Foundation in New York last year.

    (Craig Barritt / Getty Images)

    In the Instagram post, the star of “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” also showed off her after-party look, a custom jacket with cut-outs and trousers, which was inspired by a 2019 Louis Vuitton runway look. She accessorized her outfit with a white cowboy hat. Meanwhile, Harrison, who has modeled in campaigns for J. Crew and Topshop, wore a bodice and trousers with a sheer overlay on top.

    “A big part of the wedding [is about] sharing things that Kate and I love with everyone that’s going to be there,” Moretz told the magazine. “So there’s fishing, horseback riding, and poker. Kate made a custom poker mat herself, so we’re going to kind of be leaning into it. Our second day is going to be line dancing and everything.”

    Moretz came out publicly as a gay woman in November of last year via Instagram, but she and Harrison have been dating since 2018. The couple gave curious fans a peek into their mostly private relationship when Moretz announced their engagement in a New Year’s Day post this year on Instagram.

    “We’ve been together for almost seven years and making this promise to each other in a new way, and exchanging these vows,” Moretz told Vogue. “I think it’s important to just stay every day choosing each other.”


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  • Ethereum Lost 3.86% to $4284.11 — Data Talk

    Ethereum Lost 3.86% to $4284.11 — Data Talk

    Ethereum is down $171.79 today or 3.86% to $4284.11

    --Lowest 5 p.m. level since Aug. 21, 2025, when it traded at $4239.59

    --Largest percentage decrease since Aug. 25, 2025, when it dropped 9.01%

    --Snaps a two day winning streak

    --Up 28.09% year-to-date

    --Down 13.54% from its all-time intraday high of $4955.23 on Aug. 24, 2025

    --Up 67.75% from 52 weeks ago (Sept. 2, 2024), when it traded at $2553.79

    --Up 207.64% from its 52-week intraday low of $1387.85 on April 9, 2025

    --Traded as low as $4269.57

    --Down 4.18% at today's intraday low

    Note: The Ethereum price is a 5 p.m. ET snapshot from Kraken

    Data compiled by Dow Jones Market Data

    (END) Dow Jones Newswires

    September 01, 2025 17:52 ET (21:52 GMT)

    Copyright (c) 2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

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  • National Bank of Poland preview: time to react to slowing inflation | snaps

    National Bank of Poland preview: time to react to slowing inflation | snaps

    Following a decline to 2.8% year-on-year in August, headline inflation is now close to the National Bank of Poland (NBP) target and safely within the range acceptable of deviations from the target (2.5%; ±1 percentage point). The drop in CPI inflation over the summer months and the continued downward trend in core inflation are good news for the MPC. Given the decline in inflation toward the target and the relatively high nominal reference rate (5.00%), we expect a decision to ease monetary policy by 25 basis points on Wednesday.

    Statements from NBP officials indicate that inflation prospects, and hence the outlook on monetary policy, depend on the state of the business cycle, labour market conditions, energy prices, and fiscal developments. Most of these areas are developing favourably.

    Economic growth is solid, but the economy is not overheating and generating additional inflationary pressure. Wage growth slowed to 7.6%YoY in July. Signals from the government and the president suggest a willingness to extend the freeze on household electricity prices into 4Q25.

    The only exception to generally easing inflationary risks is fiscal policy, being more expansionary than previously announced (the general government sector deficit is currently estimated at 6.9% of GDP versus the 6.3% of GDP previously expected), and the 2026 budget does not indicate significant tightening (deficit projected at 6.5% of GDP).

    We expect NBP Governor Adam Glapinski to highlight this factor during Thursday’s press conference. He may signal a more cautious approach to further monetary easing in the coming months. In this context, October may bring a pause in rate cuts, with the next debate likely in November, when the Council reviews the new inflation projection.

    According to our forecasts, inflation will remain close to the NBP target in the coming quarters, giving the MPC room to continue monetary policy easing into 2026.

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  • Best Movies Streaming in September 2025: Lilo and Stitch, Warfare

    Best Movies Streaming in September 2025: Lilo and Stitch, Warfare

    The summer movie season may be officially over, but the biggest movie of the summer (and the year, for that matter) is coming to streaming. That’s “Lilo & Stitch,” Disney’s live-action remake of the 2002 animated classic that remains Hollywood’s only $1 billion grosser of the the year so far. The family blockbuster debuts on Disney+ and is sure to be streaming blockbuster.

    Elsewhere on streaming, it’s a huge month for A24. The indie studio’s spring box office hit “Friendship,” a black comedy starring Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd that’s already a cult classic in the making, arrives on HBO Max this September alongside the studio’s ambitious war thriller “Warfare.” The latter marked a reunion between A24 and “Men” and “Civil War” director Alex Garland. A24 is also a partner with Apple on Spike Lee’s latest joint “Highest 2 Lowest,” which marks his fifth collaboration with Denzel Washington. The film drops on Apple TV+ after a limited theatrical release in August.

    Check out a rundown below of the biggest new movies to streaming this month.

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  • Joe Rogan stunned as podcast guest refuses to answer question over safety concerns

    Joe Rogan stunned as podcast guest refuses to answer question over safety concerns

    Joe Rogan was left stunned during an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience when guest Paul Stamets refused to answer a question, claiming it could put his life in danger.

    Rogan, best known as a UFC commentator and host of the world’s most popular podcast, invited Stamets, a renowned mycologist and entrepreneur, to discuss fungi and their potential effects. Stamets runs Fungi Perfecti, a company specializing in mushroom-based research and products.

    During the conversation, Rogan asked Stamets, “What are the benefits or the negative effects of this?”—a question that appeared to reference portobello mushrooms. Stamets, however, declined to respond, saying, “This is an explosive area of conversation and puts my life in danger, so I reserve the right not to answer a question.”

    Rogan appeared visibly surprised by the statement, responding, “Whoa, didn’t expect that. It puts your life in danger talking about portobello mushrooms? He’s looking at me silently. I will respectfully move on.”

    The moment has resurfaced online, with fans debating what Stamets may have been referring to. Some believe his refusal suggests potential industry secrets or health concerns, while others see it as an overreaction.

    Rogan, who frequently explores topics ranging from martial arts to science and psychedelics, later discussed his own experiences with mushrooms in a separate episode. He revealed that microdosing helped him during intense workout sessions, describing the practice as a way to push through challenges and “show your true character.”

    The exchange with Stamets remains one of the more unusual moments on Rogan’s long-running podcast, which continues to dominate Spotify’s charts and attract global attention.

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  • Audible’s ‘Harry Potter’ Series Casts Hagrid, Dobby and More

    Audible’s ‘Harry Potter’ Series Casts Hagrid, Dobby and More

    Audible‘s fully voice-acted “Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions” have filled some more major roles: Hagrid, Dobby, Lucius Malfoy and the Patil Twins.

    Mark Addy (“Game of Thrones”) will voice Hagrid, Daniel Mays (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”) will voice Dobby, Alex Hassell (“The Boys”) will voice Lucius Malfoy and Avni and Sara Deshmukh will voice Parvati and Padma Patil, respectively.

    Previously announced cast members include Hugh Laurie (“House”) as Albus Dumbledore, Matthew Macfadyen (“Succession”) as Lord Voldemort, Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”) as Professor Snape and Michelle Gomez (“Doom Patrol”) as Professor McGonagall.

    Leading the cast are Frankie Treadaway, Max Lester and Arabella Stanton, who will voice Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, respectively, in audiobooks one, two and three. Jaxon Knopf, Rhys Mulligan and Nina Barker-Francis will take over the roles of Harry, Ron and Hermione in the remainder of the books.

    Stanton will also star as Hermione in HBO’s “Harry Potter” TV series, which is currently in production at Warner Bros.’ Leavesden Studios in the U.K..

    Additional casting announcements will be made this fall.

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