On the alleged association between extremely low frequency magnetic field exposures and an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

There are a few publications in scientific journals suggesting that persons who are regularly exposed to ELF-magnetic fields (occupational-, but also residential exposures) may be at risk for contracting Alzheimer’s disease. It should be noted that these reports are only pointing to a possible association but do not at present provide any proof of association. We have performed a number of preliminary in vitro laboratory investigations to explore the plausibility of such an association. Our investigations were based on similarities found in cells from Alzheimer disease patients and in cells exposed to extreme low frequency magnetic fields. We especially investigated genetic damage in C3A and SH-SY5Y cells exposed in vitro to 50 Hz magnetic fields (0-500 µT) using the cytome assay. We found an increased frequency of large micronuclei (suggesting a possible aneugenic effect) and increased frequency of nuclear buds (suggesting gene amplification). In this our results may show some similarities with observed micronuclei in blood and buccal cells of Alzheimer disease patients. The effects were found in both cell lines and were already observed for exposure levels as low as 10 µT. This is however in contrast with earlier results obtained in human lymphocytes where no induction of micronuclei was found using the same exposure unit. The results thus need to be confirmed and further analyses need to be done.