8,700 Studies Reviewed. 87.0% Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body
Brain & Nervous System

Increase in Blood Levels of Growth Factors Involved in the Neuroplasticity Process by Using an Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field in Post-stroke Patients.

Bioeffects Seen

Cichoń N, Bijak M, Czarny P, Miller E, Synowiec E, Sliwinski T, Saluk-Bijak J. · 2018

View Original Abstract
Share:

Controlled EMF therapy significantly boosted brain healing factors and functional recovery in stroke patients during rehabilitation.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Polish researchers studied whether extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields could help stroke patients recover brain function during rehabilitation. They found that patients receiving EMF therapy alongside standard rehabilitation showed significantly higher levels of brain growth factors that promote healing and scored better on cognitive and functional recovery tests. This suggests EMF therapy may enhance the brain's natural ability to rewire itself after stroke damage.

Why This Matters

This study adds to a growing body of evidence that extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields can have beneficial biological effects, particularly for neurological recovery. What makes this research particularly compelling is that it measured both molecular markers of brain healing and actual functional improvements in patients. The science demonstrates that EMF exposure increased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and other growth factors that are crucial for neuroplasticity - the brain's ability to form new neural connections after injury. The reality is that while we often focus on potential harmful effects of EMF exposure, this controlled clinical study shows therapeutic applications at specific frequencies and intensities. What this means for you is that EMF effects on the nervous system are complex and highly dependent on exposure parameters, reinforcing why blanket statements about EMF safety or danger miss the nuanced picture that science reveals.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. Duration: 4 weeks

Study Details

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field therapy (ELF-EMF) on brain plasticity in the rehabilitation of patients after stroke.

Forty-eight patients were divided into two groups underwent the same rehabilitation program, but in ...

We observed that ELF-EMF significantly increased growth factors and cytokine levels involved in neur...

Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field therapy improves the effectiveness of rehabilitation of post-stroke patients by improving neuroplasticity processes.

Cite This Study
Cichoń N, Bijak M, Czarny P, Miller E, Synowiec E, Sliwinski T, Saluk-Bijak J. (2018). Increase in Blood Levels of Growth Factors Involved in the Neuroplasticity Process by Using an Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field in Post-stroke Patients. Front Aging Neurosci. 10:294, 2018.
Show BibTeX
@article{n_2018_increase_in_blood_levels_1732,
  author = {Cichoń N and Bijak M and Czarny P and Miller E and Synowiec E and Sliwinski T and Saluk-Bijak J.},
  title = {Increase in Blood Levels of Growth Factors Involved in the Neuroplasticity Process by Using an Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field in Post-stroke Patients.},
  year = {2018},
  doi = {10.3389/fnagi.2018.00294},
  url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2018.00294/full},
}
DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00294

Cited By (31 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, a 2018 Polish study found that stroke patients receiving extremely low frequency electromagnetic field therapy alongside standard rehabilitation showed significantly higher levels of brain growth factors and better scores on cognitive and functional recovery tests compared to rehabilitation alone.
Research demonstrates that extremely low frequency electromagnetic field therapy significantly increases growth factors and cytokines involved in neuroplasticity. The 2018 study by Cichoń and colleagues found these increases correlated with improved functional recovery in post-stroke patients.
ELF-EMF therapy enhances the brain's natural ability to rewire itself by increasing gene expression at the mRNA level and boosting growth factors that promote neural healing. This neuroplasticity improvement leads to better cognitive and functional recovery outcomes.
Extremely low frequency electromagnetic field treatment significantly increases BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) and other growth factors involved in neuroplasticity. Higher BDNF plasma levels positively correlated with better functional scores and cognitive performance in stroke patients.
Yes, electromagnetic field therapy improves stroke rehabilitation effectiveness by enhancing neuroplasticity processes. The 2018 study found that combining ELF-EMF therapy with standard rehabilitation produced better functional recovery outcomes than rehabilitation alone in post-stroke patients.