Thursday, January 07, 2010

Ham radio could prevent Alzheimer's

According to a BBC news report, scientists in Florida have produced some research that suggests mobile phone use could help protect against Alzheimer's disease. The experiment was conducted on mice, which raises some interesting questions such as what were mice doing using mobile phones and how can you tell whether a mouse has Alzheimer's anyway?

Joking aside, the studies showed that exposure to certain radio frequencies protected the cognitive ability of mice that had been genetically altered to develop beta-amyloid plaques, which are not something you hang on the wall but a marker of Alzheimer's disease, apparently. The scientists are now investigating different frequencies to see if they can get better results.

This research has interesting implications for us radio amateurs. For somebody such as myself whose memory is getting so bad I had to keep switching back to the article to remind myself what I was writing about, I can't wait for the results of the research to determine what is the most effective frequency. Perhaps I should bring the magnetic loop down from the attic and sit it on the desk beside me to get more benefit from the radiation. If it is really only GHz waves that have the benefits then perhaps I should invest in an Alinco DJ-G7. Though as nobody else round here works 23cm I'd end up talking to myself, which would result in other people thinking I'd got dementia.

Perhaps this news could result in neighbours being pleased at living next door to a radio amateur and actually encouraging them to put up bigger antennas and more power. Properties sited next to a radio mast might even see a rise in value. Well, it's nice to dream!

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