Cell Phone Usage May Reduce Alzheimer's Risk

By Rachel Stockton

The emails we’ve all received regarding the perils of cell phone usage notwithstanding, researchers from the University of South Florida say that long term cell phone usage may not only prevent Alzheimer’s, it may even reverse some of the effects of the devastating disease.

Specifically, the electromagnetic waves generated by cell phones seem to reduce deposits of beta amyloid; plaque build-up of this protein is a leading indicator of Alzheimer’s disease.

For the study, 96 mice, some of which were normal while others were genetically engineered to contract Alzheimer’s, were set up with antennae in their cages that mimicked the same level of radiation adults are exposed to when using cell phones.  For two, one-hour periods each day, the mice were exposed to the radiation; the length of the project itself lasted from 7-9 months.

The effects on the mice were astounding.  Some of the genetically engineered mice in the study had not yet started exhibiting memory impairment; these mice were completely protected from the disease.  Older mice that already presented with symptoms of the disease had its progression reversed; their memories actually improved over the course of the research.

And the news gets even better:  even the “normal” mice showed improved memory cognition.

Good News for the Brain Injured

Those with Alzheimer’s disease are not the only ones who experience an accumulation of beta amyloid; so do those who’ve experienced traumatic brain injuries, especially soldiers returning from war.  The results of the South Florida study may very well have implications regarding the treatment of these patients when it comes to memory cognition and memory loss reversal.

Despite the negative press cell phones have gotten over the last several years, Gary Arendush, Ph.d and a member of the South Florida team says that a number of prior studies have shown that cell phones are not harmful to human beings.

Specifically, cell phones have been branded as carcinogenic; public perception is that they may cause brain tumors.  However, research reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute has shown no correlation between brain tumors and cell phone usage.

Alzheimer’s Statistics

Alzheimer’s disease affects 1 in 10 adults over the age of 55; approximately 4.5 million Americans suffer from the devastating illness that typically begins over the age of 60.  Research has shown that every 5 years after the age of 60, the odds for developing Alzheimer’s disease doubles.

More information on the University of South Florida study can be found in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.