The Microwave Factor: Severe Cognitive Dysfunction and Occupational Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Field Exposure among Elderly

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Severe Cognitive Dysfunction and Occupational Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Field Exposure among Elderly

Zoreh Davanipour^1,4, Chiu-Chen Tseng², Pey-Jiuan Lee^2,5, Kyriakos S. Markides³ and Eugene Sobel^1,2,4*

¹Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
²Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
³Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-1153, USA.
⁴Friends Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁵School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Abstracts

Aims: 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.

Study Design: Population-based case-control.

Place and Duration of Study: Neurology and Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2 years.

Methodology: The study population consisted of 3050 Mexican Americans, aged 65+, enrolled in Phase 1 of the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (H-EPESE) study. Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) results, primary occupational history, and other data were collected. Severe cognitive dysfunction was defined as an MMSE score below 10. The MF exposure methodology developed and used in earlier studies was used.

Results: Univariate odds ratios (OR) were 3.4 (P< .03; 95% CI: 1.3-8.9) for high and 1.7 (P=.27; 95% CI: 0.7-4.1) for medium or high (M/H) MF occupations. In multivariate main effects models, the results were similar. When interaction terms were allowed in the models, the interactions between M/Hor high occupational MF exposure and smoking history or age group were statistically significant, depending upon whether two (65-74, 75+) or three (65-74, 75-84, 85+) age groups were considered, respectively. When the analyses were limited to subjects aged 75+, the interactions between M/H or high MF occupations and a positive smoking history were statistically significant.
Conclusion: 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.

Keywords :

Severe Cognitive Dysfunction; Dementia; Occupational Exposure; Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Fields; Elderly Mexican Americans; Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (H-EPESE); Mini-Mental State Exam.

Provisional PDF