2025 Aug – From particulates to pathways: environmental exposures and their impact on Alzheimer’s disease
A recent scientific review has explored how environmental factors, including electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from devices like Wi-Fi routers, cell phones, and power lines, may influence processes in the brain linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Animal studies show these exposures can contribute to amyloid-beta accumulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Human studies are still limited, but trends suggest a potential connection. EMFs are just one of several environmental factors under investigation. Read the study here
Our Thoughts:
Based on this and the wider body of EMF research, the EM Radiation Research Trust strongly recommends a precautionary approach to protect your brain and overall health:
◆ Prioritise distance from EMF sources: Keep mobile phones, routers, and other transmitting devices away from your body.
◆ Use wired connections: Replace Wi‑Fi with Ethernet for computers and laptops, and use Ethernet adapters for phones. Keep mobile phones and ipads in flight mode while connected via an ethernet adapter this cuts out all wireless radiation while still allowing internet use.
◆ Avoid DECT (cordless) phones in the home: These devices emit continuous radiation even when idle. Opt for a fixed wired phone instead.
◆ Refuse “smart” devices that constantly emit EMFs: This includes smart meters, smart appliances, and other wireless-enabled home devices. Conventional alternatives are safer and just as functional.
💡 When safer alternatives exist, why take unnecessary risks? Hardwiring your devices is simple, effective, and puts your health first.
Remember: When you use a mobile phone for calls, texts, or data without flight mode, it must connect via a phone mast exposing everyone in the area to wireless radiation, not just you. Choosing wired, flight-mode alternatives isn’t just about protecting your own health; it’s about respecting your community and reducing the demand for more masts.
While the 2025 review highlights the latest findings on wireless EMFs and Alzheimer’s risk, it’s worth remembering that concerns about electromagnetic fields are not entirely new.
Recent studies are exploring whether everyday electromagnetic fields (EMFs) might affect brain health, including Alzheimer’s risk. The 2025 review looks at modern wireless EMFs like Wi-Fi and mobile phones, while earlier research focused on extremely low-frequency (ELF) fields from power lines and wiring. These are different slices of the electromagnetic spectrum, yet for decades both ELF and RF research have raised red flags about possible neurological harm, suggesting caution and the need for further study.
Historical Evidence:
These recent findings add to longstanding concerns documented in the 2012 BioInitiative Report, which reviewed epidemiologic, laboratory, and mechanistic evidence linking ELF magnetic field exposure to Alzheimer’s disease with a call for new safety standards from EMF powerlines, electrical wiring, and wireless technologies.
Bioiniative report 2012 *”This study covers EMF from powerlines, electrical wiring, appliances and hand-held devices; and from wireless technologies (cell and cordless phones, cell towers, ‘smart meters’, WI-FI, wireless laptops, wireless routers, baby monitors, and other electronic devices). Health topics include damage to DNA and genes, effects on memory, learning, behavior, attention, sleep disruption, cancer and neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. New safety standards are urgently needed for protection against EMF and wireless exposures that now appear everywhere in daily life.”* https://bioinitiative.org/media/press-releases/
BioInitiative Report (2012) – Alzheimer’s Disease
“There is strong epidemiologic evidence that exposure to ELF MF is a risk factor for AD. There are now twelve (12) studies of ELF MF exposure and AD or dementia. Nine (9) of these studies are considered positive and three (3) are considered negative. The three negative studies have serious deficiencies in ELF MF exposure classification that result in subjects with rather low exposure being considered as having significant exposure. There are insufficient studies to formulate an opinion as to whether radiofrequency MF exposure is a risk or protective factor for AD.
There is now evidence that (i) high levels of peripheral amyloid beta are a risk factor for AD and (ii) medium to high ELF MF exposure can increase peripheral amyloid beta. High brain levels of amyloid beta are also a risk factor for AD and medium to high ELF MF exposure to brain cells likely also increases these cells’ production of amyloid beta.
There is considerable in vitro and animal evidence that melatonin protects against AD. Therefore, it is certainly possible that low levels of melatonin production are associated with an increase in the risk of AD.”
(Davanipour and Sobel, 2012 – Section 13, BioInitiative Report)
Visit the BioInitiative Report
For more information on the effects of EMF exposure, see Safer EMR – Effects of Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields.