A few years ago, people were afraid that certain waves emitted by cell phones might be harmful to their health. New evidence indicates quite the contrary – a recent study shows that waves emitted by cell phones may be beneficial to the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

The study, published at UTSA in The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, involved normal and genetically engineered mice being exposed to the same electromagnetic waves that are emitted while talking on a cell phone.

The study found that cell phone exposure protected the memory of mice that would have eventually developed Alzheimer’s. Exposure to these electromagnetic waves actually reversed memory impairment in the mice that already had Alzheimer’s.

“This study holds (a) promise to be a great benefit,” George Perry, dean of the college of sciences and editor of the journal, said.

The treatment for Alzheimer’s is currently administered only through a handful of drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency.

Perry states that the use of electromagnetic waves is one-of-a kind and is the first “neurological treatment” to be used.

It is important to note that these effects have been reproduced in mice and have not been tested on humans. The study needs to be reproduced in other animals and humans before the research can be conclusive. The positive results of reversing Alzheimer’s took months to detect in mice. The same beneficial effects could take years to show up in a human brain. Nevertheless, the study suggests that electromagnetic waves could eventually be an effective way to treat Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s, a form of dementia, is a fatal and progressive brain disorder that has been diagnosed in over five million Americans, primarily in people ages 65 and older. It is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, also claiming millions of other victims worldwide. Alzheimer’s disease destroys brain cells progressively, which results in memory loss and impaired body functions that can then lead to death.

Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, but research continues to make progress. The study on mice and cell phone waves is just another step closer to finding a cure.