Speaker
Description
Epidemiological studies have found an association between occupational exposure to low frequency magnetic fields and the occurrence motor neuron disease and Alzheimer's disease, but not Parkinson's disease, while the evidence for multiple sclerosis is insufficient. Animal models studying neurodegenerative disease may provide more evidence on causation and the underlying mechanisms. A systematic search and review was conducted of peer-reviewed research articles involving animal experiments on the effects of low frequency magnetic field exposure on behavioural and neuroanatomical outcomes relevant for neurodegenerative diseases in humans. Experimental studies in naive animals do not support a causal relationship between low frequency magnetic field exposure and the induction of neuropathology relevant for Alzheimer's disease. For motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease the number of studies is too limited to draw conclusions. In existing animal models for neurodegenerative disease, the balance of evidence supports a therapeutic (beneficial) effect of low frequency magnetic field treatment on behavioural and neuroanatomical abnormalities relevant for dementia, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease and no effect on disease progression in existing models relevant for motor neuron disease.
