Objective:

To investigate the association between community water fluoridation and cognitive functioning across the life course using data from Wisconsin, emphasizing the broader implications.

Key Findings:

• No statistically significant associations were found between fluoride exposure and cognitive outcomes across multiple analyses.
• Descriptive data indicated higher unadjusted cognitive scores among those first exposed to fluoride in late adolescence, but this group had greater socioeconomic advantages, including higher family income and parental education.
• The study's results were consistent with chance, as only two out of 45 coefficient estimates were statistically distinguishable from zero.

Interpretation:

The findings suggest that community water fluoridation does not negatively impact adolescent IQ or cognitive functioning later in life, contrasting with recent state-level decisions to end fluoridation.

Limitations:

• The study could not directly measure individual fluoride intake.
• It did not account for other sources of fluoride exposure, such as dental care products, which may influence cognitive outcomes.

Conclusion:

The study concludes that there is no evidence linking community water fluoridation to lower cognitive functioning, which has significant implications for public health policy, especially in light of recent state-level decisions to end fluoridation.