Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on cognitive function in elderly subjects (60+ years)-Results of an experimental randomized sham controlled double-blind cross-over study in women and in men.

BACKGROUND

During the regular use of digital communication devices, the human head is exposed to different levels of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF). Several experimental human studies on possible effects of RF-EMF from different technical systems on cognitive performance over the last decades show contradictory results. Most of the results come from studies with young male participants.

OBJECTIVES

The present study examined whether cognitive functions of older women and men are more vulnerable and therefore may react differently to RF-EMF exposure than younger individuals.

METHODS

Sixty healthy women (30) and men (30) between the ages of 60 and 80 years took part in a double-blind randomized sham-controlled experimental study. All participants completed four different attentional tasks in nine separate sessions, separated by two weeks, while being exposed to either RF-EMF of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM 900 MHz), Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA 385 MHz) signals, or sham in three sessions each.

RESULTS

Two performance outcome measures out of 16 were statistically significantly affected by exposure in women only: accuracy in an n-back task was worse under GSM exposure in the easier version and under TETRA exposure in the highest level of the task. Performance of women and men did not differ significantly. Only one significant sex-exposure interaction effect was observed under TETRA exposure, indicating a better performance in men, and a worse performance in women as compared to sham.

DISCUSSION: Overall, cognitive performance of healthy elderly participants was not affected by short-term RF-EMF exposure, which corresponds to the results of the most recent comprehensive meta-analyses for the non-elderly population. No conclusion can be drawn for older adults with health-related restrictions or disorders, or effects from long-term exposure.