Effects of mobile phones electromagnetic radiation on patients with epilepsy: an EEG study

2020 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 1546

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2020

Study typeother

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Effects of mobile phones electromagnetic radiation on patients with epilepsy: an EEG study Azmy R, Reham S, Abdalla Farag NA, Elkholy S, Maher E. Effects of mobile phones electromagnetic radiation on patients with epilepsy: an EEG study. Egyptian Journal of Neurology Psychiatry and Neurosurgery. 56(1):36. Mar 16, 2020. Background Recently, an exceptional increase was witnessed in cell phone users. The brain has greater exposure to the electromagnetic field (EMF) created during mobile phone use than the rest of the body, which may impair its function. In persons with epilepsy, the brain has more tendencies towards electrical instability. Objectives The current study aims at investigating the effect of mobile phone radiation (MPR) on the electroencephalogram (EEG) of persons with epilepsy as well as healthy adults. Subjects and methods Thirty patients with idiopathic epilepsy and 30 matching controls underwent EEG recording including 15 min of sham exposure followed by 30 min of real exposure to MPR and a final post- exposure recording for extra 15 min. The number of abnormal EEG events was counted during sham and real exposure for each subject. Correlation analysis was done between the number of epileptic events detected during the real exposure to MPR and the patients' clinical data Results In the control group, the EEG under real MPR exposure showed no abnormal discharges. In persons with epilepsy, all those with abnormal EEG during sham exposure MPR (33%) showed an increase in the number of events with real exposure to MPR. One patient showed a change in the pattern of discharge from interictal changes to an ictal rhythm. Another patient with normal EEG during sham record developed temporal epileptiform discharges during real exposure. Conclusion Mobile phone radiation shows recognizable effects on the brain rhythm of persons with epilepsy. These results should be confirmed by future studies to establish a recommendation addressing the use of such devices in epileptic patients. Open access paper: ejnpn.springeropen.com

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeother

Effect directionmixed

PopulationAdults with idiopathic epilepsy and matched healthy controls

Sample size60

Exposure15 min sham exposure; 30 min real exposure; 15 min post-exposure recording

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In controls, no abnormal discharges were observed during real mobile phone radiation exposure. In participants with epilepsy, those with abnormal EEG during sham exposure (33%) showed an increased number of events during real exposure; one participant showed a change from interictal changes to an ictal rhythm, and another developed temporal epileptiform discharges during real exposure.

Outcomes measured

EEG abnormal discharges/events
Change in EEG discharge pattern (interictal to ictal rhythm)
Development of temporal epileptiform discharges during exposure

Limitations

Frequency/SAR and other exposure parameters not reported in the abstract
Short exposure duration and immediate EEG outcomes only
Study design details (e.g., randomization/blinding) not specified in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "15 min sham exposure; 30 min real exposure; 15 min post-exposure recording"
  },
  "population": "Adults with idiopathic epilepsy and matched healthy controls",
  "sample_size": 60,
  "outcomes": [
    "EEG abnormal discharges/events",
    "Change in EEG discharge pattern (interictal to ictal rhythm)",
    "Development of temporal epileptiform discharges during exposure"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In controls, no abnormal discharges were observed during real mobile phone radiation exposure. In participants with epilepsy, those with abnormal EEG during sham exposure (33%) showed an increased number of events during real exposure; one participant showed a change from interictal changes to an ictal rhythm, and another developed temporal epileptiform discharges during real exposure.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Frequency/SAR and other exposure parameters not reported in the abstract",
    "Short exposure duration and immediate EEG outcomes only",
    "Study design details (e.g., randomization/blinding) not specified in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "mobile phone radiation",
    "electromagnetic field",
    "epilepsy",
    "EEG",
    "sham exposure",
    "ictal rhythm",
    "epileptiform discharges"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study evaluates effects of mobile phone electromagnetic radiation exposure."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1186/s41983-020-00167-2
PubMed: Not supplied

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