If you’ve done everything you can to get your kid’s brain on the level of his or her friends’, it might not be how hard you’re trying — it might be genetics!
A gene has been discovered by scientists that links to the increased likelihood of children having lower IQ!
What’s super cool is that the discovery isn’t just there for knowledge’s sake!
Scientists believe that with genetic testing of newborn babies could perhaps lead to treating of the gene with thyroid hormone tablets. The reason for such a tablet would be because some children with exceptionally low IQ also have low thyroid levels.
About four percent of babies with this gene also have low thyroid level. That tablet could potentially help 30,000 children per year develop their IQ normally!!
However it’s important to note that children who have low thyroid levels without the gene linked to a lower IQ are NOT at a greater risk of having a lower IQ. Indeed also children with the gene but have normal thyroid levels are also not at risk.
Here’s what Dr. Peter Taylor of Cardiff University said:
“If other studies confirm our finding then there may be benefit in carrying out a genetic test for this gene variant in addition to the standard neonatal thyroid screening, which would identify children most at risk of developing low IQ. Children with satisfactory thyroid hormone levels together with the genetic variant have normal IQ levels, which raises the possibility that children at risk could be treated with standard thyroid hormone tablets to compensate for impaired thyroid hormone processing.”
We’re so glad that science is helping families and most especially helping kids!
After all — children are our future!
Hopefully with some more research and tests, they’ll be able to further certify these brilliant findings!
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