Introduction: Although studies have shown a potential association between extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) exposure and Alzheimer's disease (AD), few studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of weak magnetic fields on brain functions such as cognitive functions in animal models. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of ELF-EMF exposure (50 Hz, 10 mT) on spatial learning and memory changes in AD rats.
Methods: Amyloid-β (Aβ) 1-42 was injected into lateral ventricle to establish an AD rat model. The rats were divided into six groups: Group I (control); Group II (surgical sham); Group III (AD) Alzheimer's rat model; Group IV (MF) rats exposed to ELF-MF for 14 consecutive days; Group V (Aβ injection+M) rats exposed to magnetic field for 14 consecutive days from day 0 to 14 days after the Aβ peptide injection; Group VI (AD+M) rats exposed to magnetic field for 14 consecutive days after 2 weeks of Aβ peptide injection from 14th to 28th day . Morris water maze investigations were performed.
Results: AD rats showed a significant impairment in learning and memory compared to control rats. The results showed that ELF-MF improved the learning and memory impairments in Aβ injection+M and AD+M groups.
Conclusion: Our results showed that application of ELF-MF not only has improving effect on different cognitive disorder signs of AD animals, but also disrupts the processes of AD rat model formation.
Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs); learning and memory.