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A Cohort Study on Alzheimer's Disease in Relation to Residential Magnetic Fields From Indoor Transformer Stations
Liimatainen Anu, Roivainen Päivi, Juutilainen Jukka, Höytö Anne, Naarala Jonne. Bioelectromagnetics, 2025-10-31
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Meta-analyses of epidemiological studies have suggested that Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be linked with exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields (MF). This is the first study investigating the association of AD with exposure to residential ELF MFs from indoor transformer stations, using a study design that avoids shortcomings of previous studies. All cohort members had lived in buildings with indoor transformer stations. MF exposure was assessed based on the location of their apartment in relation to the transformer room. AD patients were identified from Drug Purchase Register and Drug Reimbursement Register. Out of the 155,562 individuals, 5652 (111,357 person-years of follow-up) living in apartments next to transformer stations were considered as exposed, while 115,772 (2,289,526 person-years of follow-up) individuals living on higher floors of the same buildings were considered as referents. Associations between MF exposure and AD were examined using Cox proportional hazard models. The hazard ratio (HR) was 1.02 (95% confidence interval: 0.85-1.22), indicating that the risk of AD is not associated with residential ELF MFs present in apartments next to transformer stations. The duration of residence did not essentially change the HR. The risk of AD was slightly but not statistically significantly higher (HR 1.22, 95% confidence interval: 0.94-1.57) for those whose residence started before the age of 50 years. The results did not support positive findings from previous studies that have reported a link between AD and occupational or residential MF exposure. Bioelectromagnetics. 00:00-00, 2025.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Anu, L., Päivi, R., Jukka, J., Anne, H., & Jonne, N. (2025). A Cohort Study on Alzheimer's Disease in Relation to Residential Magnetic Fields From Indoor Transformer Stations. Bioelectromagnetics. https://doi.org/10.1002/bem.70031
Vancouver
Anu L, Päivi R, Jukka J, Anne H, Jonne N. A Cohort Study on Alzheimer's Disease in Relation to Residential Magnetic Fields From Indoor Transformer Stations. Bioelectromagnetics. 2025. doi:10.1002/bem.70031. PMID: 41170624.
BibTeX
@article{anu2025-41170624,
author = {Anu, Liimatainen and Päivi, Roivainen and Jukka, Juutilainen and Anne, Höytö and Jonne, Naarala},
title = {{A Cohort Study on Alzheimer's Disease in Relation to Residential Magnetic Fields From Indoor Transformer Stations}},
journal = {Bioelectromagnetics},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/bem.70031},
pmid = {41170624},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/bem.70031}
}
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Key findings
- Meta-analyses of epidemiological studies have suggested that Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be linked with exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields (MF).
- The hazard ratio (HR) was 1.02 (95% confidence interval: 0.85-1.22), indicating that the risk of AD is not associated with residential ELF MFs present in apartments next to transformer stations.
- The risk of AD was slightly but not statistically significantly higher (HR 1.22, 95% confidence interval: 0.94-1.57) for those whose residence started before the age of 50 years.
- The results did not support positive findings from previous studies that have reported a link between AD and occupational or residential MF exposure.
Why it matters
This cohort study found no association between residential extremely low frequency magnetic fields from indoor transformer stations and Alzheimer's disease risk (hazard ratio 1.02). It is an observational study of exposure and risk, not a treatment, cure, or prevention trial.
Study details
- Study designmeta-analysis
- Participants155,562
- Effect sizeHR 1.22
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 59/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a meta-analysis pooling many studies.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Bioelectromagnetics) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Bioelectromagnetics: journal h-index 117 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A meta-analysis pooling many studies |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 4 / 4 | 155,562 participants |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomization is not credited here |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 4 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-17) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 4 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Jonne Naarala: h-index 30 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | University of Eastern Finland: institution h-index 616 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41170624) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 59 / 100 | — |
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