And the radiation gave mice without Alzheimer's a boost in brain activity.
"It surprised us to find that cell phone exposure, begun in early adulthood, protects the memory of mice otherwise destined to develop Alzheimer's symptoms," Gary Arendash, lead author of the study and researcher at Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, said in a statement.
The researchers showed that exposing old Alzheimer's mice to the electromagnetic waves generated by cell phones erased brain deposits of beta-amyloid, a protein strongly associated with Alzheimer's disease. Clumps of beta-amyloid form so-called brain plaques that are a hallmark of the disease. The scientists speculate the cell phone radiation increases brain temperature, causing brain cells to release the nasty plaques.
They suspect a similar effect would show up in humans, and so cell phone radiation might be used to prevent and treat the debilitating disease for us, they say.
Old woman: "Where you at? I'm just in the car working on the Alzheimer's. Ugh. That was just a bump"
Guy on the hood: "Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! No, don't stop! Don't stop! Ahh!"
I hope this helps people and not just rats, Alzheimer's is a horrible horrible disease.
© 2009 all rights reserved
