Synaptosomal acetylcholinesterase activity variation pattern in the presence of electromagnetic fields.
Afrasiabi A, Riazi GH, Abbasi S, Dadras A, Ghalandari B, Seidkhani H, Modaresi SM, Masoudian N, Amani A, Ahmadian S. · 2014
View Original AbstractEMF exposure altered brain enzyme activity that regulates memory and learning chemicals, suggesting a biological mechanism for cognitive effects.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed brain tissue samples from sheep to electromagnetic fields at power line frequencies (50-230 Hz) and found that certain field strengths reduced the activity of acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that breaks down the brain chemical acetylcholine. This enzyme is crucial for memory, learning, and cognitive function. The findings suggest that EMF exposure could potentially disrupt normal brain chemistry by affecting how neurotransmitters are regulated.
Why This Matters
This study reveals a concerning mechanism by which electromagnetic fields may interfere with brain function at the molecular level. Acetylcholinesterase plays a critical role in cognitive processes, and any disruption to its normal activity could have implications for memory, learning, and overall brain health. The field strengths used in this study (1.2-1.7 mT) are significantly higher than typical household exposures but within ranges that could occur near high-voltage power lines or certain industrial equipment. What makes this research particularly noteworthy is that it identifies a specific biochemical pathway through which EMFs might affect brain function, adding to the growing body of evidence suggesting that our nervous systems are sensitive to electromagnetic exposures. While the researchers optimistically suggest this could lead to treatments for certain brain disorders, the reality is that uncontrolled EMF exposure affecting brain chemistry should be a cause for concern, not therapeutic opportunity.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.1, 1.7 mG
- Source/Device
- 50 Hz to 230 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 15 and 120 min
Exposure Context
This study used 0.1, 1.7 mG for magnetic fields:
- 5Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 1Kx above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 1 mG
Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
In this study, we investigated the effects of a wide range of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) on synaptic ACh concentrations through AChE enzyme activity assay.
Synaptosome suspensions were prepared as a neural terminus from cerebral cortex of sheep brain. Prep...
These curves showed that AChE activity decreases when exposed to ELF-EMFs of 1.2 mT to 1.7 mT intens...
More in vivo experiments are needed to develop this suggested treatment.
Show BibTeX
@article{a_2014_synaptosomal_acetylcholinesterase_activity_variation_588,
author = {Afrasiabi A and Riazi GH and Abbasi S and Dadras A and Ghalandari B and Seidkhani H and Modaresi SM and Masoudian N and Amani A and Ahmadian S.},
title = {Synaptosomal acetylcholinesterase activity variation pattern in the presence of electromagnetic fields.},
year = {2014},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24418344/},
}