You may be getting calls about a preliminary study showing that cell phone usage for about an hour can affect glucose metabolism in the area of the brain closest to the phone’s antenna. The study appears in JAMA.
Some 50 healthy participants had cell phones placed next to both ears for 50 minutes on two occasions. On one occasion the phones were off, and on the other only the right phone was activated, but the sound was muted while it received a recorded message.
Brain glucose metabolism, as measured by positron emission tomography, was significantly higher in the region of the brain closest to the activated phone’s antenna. Whole-brain glucose metabolism, however, did not differ between the active versus inactive phone conditions.
The authors conclude that the finding’s clinical significance is unknown.
