Yale Links Cell Phones to ADHD

ADHD waiting to be diagnosed?

With the increasing use of cell phones by adults and children, questions about potential harmful effects of cell phone radiation have been growing. Researchers at Yale University and the Yale School of Medicine recently released results of a study on mice indicating that "exposure to radiation from cell phones during pregnancy affects the brain development of offspring, potentially leading to hyperactivity."

exposure to radiation from cell phones during pregnancy affects brain development

The researchers placed an active cell phone (muted and silenced) receiving calls over one cage of pregnant mice, while a deactivated cell phone was placed over another cage. Once the mice grew to become adults, brain activity was measured and psychological tests performed. They noted "mice that were exposed to radiation tended to be more hyperactive and had reduced memory capacity."

Researchers concluded that exposure to cell phone radiation while in the womb could play a role in the increasing rates of ADHD and other behavioral disorders in US children.

Should you throw out your cell phone?
We're holding onto our cell phones for now, but it would be prudent to limit cell phone use around children and pregnant women. Here's three easy tips to reduce radiation exposure from your phone:

1. Text with the phone further from your body rather that talking on it.
2. Save long conversations for face-to-face or landlines.
3. Try to use cell phones in areas where the signal is strongest, which requires less radiation to be emitted by the phone.

Expect to see further research on this issue over the next several years.

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