Severe Cognitive Dysfunction and Occupational Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Field Exposure among Elderly Mexican Americans
Davanipour Z, Tseng C-C, Lee PJ, Markides KS, Sobel E. · 2014
View Original AbstractWorking in an occupation with high or M/H MF exposure may increase the risk of severe cognitive dysfunction.
Plain English Summary
The study included 3050 Mexican Americans aged 65 and older from the H-EPESE study, and severe cognitive dysfunction was defined as an MMSE score below 10. Occupational extremely low frequency magnetic field exposure was classified using a methodology from earlier studies. Univariate odds ratios were 3.4 for high exposure and 1.7 for medium or high exposure, with similar results in multivariate models. Interactions between medium/high or high exposure and smoking history or age group were statistically significant, particularly for those aged 75 and older. The authors concluded that high or medium/high occupational exposure may increase the risk of severe cognitive dysfunction, and that smoking and older age may increase the deleterious effect.
Why This Matters
Earlier studies investigated relationships between MF occupational exposure and Alzheimer's disease or dementia but had mixed results. Researchers collected Mini-Mental State Exam results, primary occupational history, and other data.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 50–60 Hz
Study Details
This report is the first study of the possible relationship between extremely low frequency (50–60 Hz, ELF) magnetic field (MF) exposure and severe cognitive dysfunction. Earlier studies investigated the relationships between MF occupational exposure and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or dementia. These studies had mixed results, depending upon whether the diagnosis of AD or dementia was performed by experts and upon the methodology used to classify MF exposure.
The study population consisted of 3050 Mexican Americans, aged 65+, enrolled in Phase 1 of the Hispa...
Univariate odds ratios (OR) were 3.4 (P< .03; 95% CI: 1.3–8.9) for high and 1.7 (P=.27; 95% CI: 0.7–...
The results of this study indicate that working in an occupation with high or M/H MF exposure may increase the risk of severe cognitive dysfunction. Smoking and older age may increase the deleterious effect of MF exposure.
Show BibTeX
@article{z_2014_severe_cognitive_dysfunction_and_1532,
author = {Davanipour Z and Tseng C-C and Lee PJ and Markides KS and Sobel E.},
title = {Severe Cognitive Dysfunction and Occupational Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Field Exposure among Elderly Mexican Americans},
year = {2014},
url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4020120/},
}