Is Wi-Fi linked to Alzheimer’s? Study urges further research

A recent review published in Frontiers in Neurology examined the research about the influence of wireless radiation on oxidative stress and its possible relationship with Alzheimer’s disease. It found that exposure to wireless radiation at 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) — the frequency commonly used for Wi-Fi technology — could alter the expression of genes responsible for key cellular functions such as DNA repair and metabolism.

In short:

• Several studies report exposure to wireless radiation can induce an increase in oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can lead to cellular and neuronal damage.
• Exposure to wireless radiation has also been found to impact multiple genes involved in DNA replication and repair processes, suggesting wireless radiation could impair genomic stability.
• Wireless exposure was also linked to a significant decrease in the expression of a key gene within glial cells, which are critical to the healthy functioning of the nervous system.
• The authors of this review say these findings point to wireless radiation’s potential role in exacerbating conditions linked to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, although current evidence does not establish a causal link. They emphasize the need for rigorous further research.
  

Key quote:

“These findings reinforce the possibility that prolonged exposure to high-frequency RF-EMF [wireless radiofrequency electromagnetic fields] may have adverse effects on cellular and genetic health.”

Why this matters:

Alzheimer’s disease is being studied in the context of various environmental risk factors, including exposure to non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation. Some scientific studies have reported an association between wireless radiation exposure and a variety of effects in the brain, such as oxidative stress, inflammation, neurotransmitter imbalances, impacts to the blood-brain barrier, and neurodegeneration. At the same time, other studies suggest that non-ionizing frequencies may have beneficial effects and therapeutic applications, highlighting the complex and context-dependent nature of its biologically-relevant effects.

However, in the U.S., federal agency research into the bioeffects of wireless radiation has been defunded. Current U.S. regulations for wireless radiation exposure, unchanged since 1996, only protect against overheating, but not genetic or other health effects, and several scientific analyses recommend tightening safety guidelines to ensure public health protection.

Related EHN coverage:

• Laptops and cell phones may amplify genetic risks to male infertility, study finds
• Wireless radiation exposure linked to DNA damage
• Laptop use in classrooms increases children’s exposure to wireless radiation, study finds

More resources:

• Doctors and Scientists on Cell Phone Radiation
• Fact Sheet: 5 Invisible Sources of Wireless RF Radiation at Home
• WATCH: Dr. Linda Birnbaum on the science of wireless radiation health effects