1950 MHz Electromagnetic Fields Ameliorate Aβ Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Mice.

Current Alzheimer research · 2015 · Benefit · Low evidence

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BenefitLow evidencePaper 4775

Study snapshot

PublicationCurrent Alzheimer research · 2015

Study typeanimal

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The involvement of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) in the neurodegenerative disease, especially Alzheimer's disease (AD), has received wide consideration, however, outcomes from several researches have not shown consistency. In this study, we determined whether RF-EMF influenced AD pathology in vivo using Tg-5xFAD mice as a model of AD-like amyloid β (Aβ) pathology. The transgenic (Tg)-5xFAD and wild type (WT) mice were chronically exposed to RF-EMF for 8 months (1950 MHz, SAR 5W/kg, 2 hrs/day, 5 days/week). Notably, chronic RFEMF exposure significantly reduced not only Aβ plaques, APP, and APP carboxyl-terminal fragments (CTFs) in whole brain including hippocampus and entorhinal cortex but also the ratio of Aβ42 and Aβ40 peptide in the hippocampus of Tg-5xFAD mice. We also found that parenchymal expression of β-amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1(BACE1) and neuroinflammation were inhibited by RF-EMF exposure in Tg-5xFAD. In addition, RF-EMF was shown to rescue memory impairment in Tg-5xFAD. Moreover, gene profiling from microarray data using hippocampus of WT and Tg- 5xFAD following RF-EMF exposure revealed that 5 genes (Tshz2, Gm12695, St3gal1, Isx and Tll1), which are involved in Aβ, are significantly altered inTg-5xFAD mice, exhibiting different responses to RF-EMF in WT or Tg-5xFAD mice; RF-EMF exposure in WT mice showed similar patterns to control Tg-5xFAD mice, however, RF-EMF exposure in Tg- 5xFAD mice showed opposite expression patterns. These findings indicate that chronic RF-EMF exposure directly affects Aβ pathology in AD but not in normal brain. Therefore, RF-EMF has preventive effects against AD-like pathology in advanced AD mice with a high expression of Aβ, which suggests that RF-EMF can have a beneficial influence on AD.

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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 typeanimal

Effect directionbenefit

PopulationTg-5xFAD transgenic mice (Alzheimer’s disease model) and wild type mice

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 1950 MHz · 5 W/kg · 8 months; 2 hrs/day, 5 days/week

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Tg-5xFAD and wild type mice were chronically exposed to 1950 MHz RF-EMF (SAR 5 W/kg) for 8 months. In Tg-5xFAD mice, exposure significantly reduced Aβ plaques, APP and APP-CTFs in whole brain (including hippocampus and entorhinal cortex), reduced the hippocampal Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio, inhibited BACE1 expression and neuroinflammation, and rescued memory impairment. Gene profiling indicated five Aβ-related genes were significantly altered in Tg-5xFAD mice with different response patterns in WT versus Tg-5xFAD following exposure.

Outcomes measured

Aβ plaques
APP and APP carboxyl-terminal fragments (CTFs)
Hippocampal Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio
BACE1 expression
Neuroinflammation
Memory impairment/behavior
Hippocampal gene expression (microarray; Tshz2, Gm12695, St3gal1, Isx, Tll1)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure source/setup (e.g., device/field characteristics beyond frequency and SAR) not described in abstract
Findings are from an animal model; relevance to humans not addressed in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 1950,
    "sar_wkg": 5,
    "duration": "8 months; 2 hrs/day, 5 days/week"
  },
  "population": "Tg-5xFAD transgenic mice (Alzheimer’s disease model) and wild type mice",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Aβ plaques",
    "APP and APP carboxyl-terminal fragments (CTFs)",
    "Hippocampal Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio",
    "BACE1 expression",
    "Neuroinflammation",
    "Memory impairment/behavior",
    "Hippocampal gene expression (microarray; Tshz2, Gm12695, St3gal1, Isx, Tll1)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Tg-5xFAD and wild type mice were chronically exposed to 1950 MHz RF-EMF (SAR 5 W/kg) for 8 months. In Tg-5xFAD mice, exposure significantly reduced Aβ plaques, APP and APP-CTFs in whole brain (including hippocampus and entorhinal cortex), reduced the hippocampal Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio, inhibited BACE1 expression and neuroinflammation, and rescued memory impairment. Gene profiling indicated five Aβ-related genes were significantly altered in Tg-5xFAD mice with different response patterns in WT versus Tg-5xFAD following exposure.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure source/setup (e.g., device/field characteristics beyond frequency and SAR) not described in abstract",
    "Findings are from an animal model; relevance to humans not addressed in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
    "RF-EMF",
    "1950 MHz",
    "SAR 5 W/kg",
    "Alzheimer's disease",
    "Tg-5xFAD",
    "amyloid beta",
    "Aβ plaques",
    "APP",
    "BACE1",
    "neuroinflammation",
    "memory",
    "microarray"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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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: 10.2174/156720501205150526114448
PubMed: 26017559

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