New Brain-Boosting Chemicals Found in Breast Milk

Bludgeoner66/<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bludgeoner86/2805332812/sizes/l/in/photostream/">Flickr</a>

Fight disinformation: Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily newsletter and follow the news that matters.


Breastfeeding has been widely recommended by organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC because of the health benefits to babies. Not only does breast milk seem to help babies’ disease resistance, it has also been correlated with higher IQs and even higher test scores. But why is breast milk a “brain food”? Scientists have a variety of theories: for one, brains are made up of fats, and breast milk contains lots of DHA omega-3 fatty acids. Breastfeeding is also soothing to the infant, which reduces stress hormones that might disrupt or slow brain development. This week, a new study out of PLoS One has found some additional brain boosters: S100B, BDNF, and GDNF.

The S100B protein, found in high levels in breast milk, is linked to brain maturation and development.

The protein BDNF (Brain-Developing Neurotrophic Factor), called “Miracle-Gro for the brain” by one scientist, helps existing neurons thrive and stimulates the growth of new neurons in various areas of the brain. It’s also tied to the development of long-term memory.

GDNF is short for Glial cell-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, and it’s a small but punchy protein: it helps very specific neurons develop, AND keeps them running. It’s so powerful that in adults, it’s been pegged as a possible treatment for degenerative neurological diseases like Parkinson’s.

Together, the researchers say, these chemicals may “exert a stimulating effect on neurodevelopment during breastfeeding or long afterward” and that the substances have been shown to be “critical” in “neuronal growth, development, protection, and repair.”

With an increasing list of benefits, it’s no wonder human breast milk is a hot commodity.

Fact:

Mother Jones was founded as a nonprofit in 1976 because we knew corporations and billionaires wouldn't fund the type of hard-hitting journalism we set out to do.

Today, reader support makes up about two-thirds of our budget, allows us to dig deep on stories that matter, and lets us keep our reporting free for everyone. If you value what you get from Mother Jones, please join us with a tax-deductible donation today so we can keep on doing the type of journalism 2024 demands.

payment methods

Fact:

Today, reader support makes up about two-thirds of our budget, allows us to dig deep on stories that matter, and lets us keep our reporting free for everyone. If you value what you get from Mother Jones, please join us with a tax-deductible donation today so we can keep on doing the type of journalism 2024 demands.

payment methods

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate