Dr Anke Huss of the University of Bern has found people who live in close proximity to extra-high voltage power lines may have a heightened risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, Reu
ters reports.
The power lines are used for long-distance transmission of large amounts of electricity.
The researchers found people living within 50 meters of a 220-380 kV power line were 1.24 times more likely to die of Alzheimer's disease than those living at least 600 meters away from these power lines, according to the article.
However, Huss said to take the findings lightly, as this is the first study to link residential magnetic field exposure to the debilitating condition.
The doctor also added there was no accepted biological mechanism to explain why magnetic fields might increase Alzheimer's risk but said, "There might be something going on even if we don't know what it is."
In 2007, the World Health Organization concluded there was not enough evidence to link low-frequency magnetic fields to the condition but called for more research into the issue.
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