Researchers at the University of Bern and the IT'IS Foundation in Zurich, among them Meike Mevissen, who led the WHO review on radiofrequency radiation and cancer, wanted to know whether 5G can disturb human brain cells while they are still forming.
They grew dopamine-producing nerve cells, the type lost in Parkinson's disease, from human stem cells, in one normal version and one stripped of PARP1, a protein that reacts to DNA damage and stress and can push a strained cell toward death. Both were exposed to a 5G signal in the 410 to 7125 MHz range as they developed.
Exposure did not change how the cells developed or how they fired, while the missing protein changed them markedly. The authors do also mention transient effects of RF-EMF on the dopamine-producing nerve cells, and "[e]vidence of a genotype-dependent response to RF-EMF exposure [...] observed only for SYP and mTOR".
Quotes
"Although no conclusive evidence links RF-EMF exposure to adverse health outcomes, including neurodevelopmental disorders or neurodegeneration, some studies suggest possible effects on cognitive functions."
"RF-EMF exposure did not alter the neuronal phenotype, development, synaptic integrity, or electrical activity in either genotype. Proteomic analysis further supports that genotype-dependent differences were greater than any RF-EMF-related exposure effects."
"Overall, neuronal development was predominantly influenced by the genotype, whereas RF-EMF exposure produced only transient effects on the dopaminergic phenotype. Evidence of a genotype-dependent response to RF-EMF exposure was observed only for SYP and mTOR."
"Future studies should assess RF-EMF exposure at later developmental stages and investigate PARP1 function in disease-relevant models."
Exposure
"The PARP1-KO was successfully generated, and RF-EMF exposure, namely 5 G NR FR1, did not alter PARP1 transcript levels within WT cells."
Location
📍 Switzerland
Are 5G radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and PARP1 interfering with the development of human iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons?
Ducray AD, Ben Chaabene R, Jamaati A, Capstick M, Mevissen M (2026) Neurotoxicology Journal Level 1ⓘ
