TY - JOUR T1 - Occupational exposure to low frequency magnetic fields and dementia: a case–control study JF - Occupational and Environmental Medicine JO - Occup Environ Med SP - 108 LP - 114 DO - 10.1136/oem.2005.024190 VL - 64 IS - 2 AU - Andreas Seidler AU - Petra Geller AU - Albert Nienhaus AU - Tanja Bernhardt AU - Ingeburg Ruppe AU - Siegfried Eggert AU - Maila Hietanen AU - Timo Kauppinen AU - Lutz Frölich Y1 - 2007/02/01 UR - http://oem.bmj.com/content/64/2/108.abstract N2 - Background: Several studies point to a potential aetiological relevance to dementia of exposure to low-frequency magnetic fields, but the evidence is inconclusive. Objective: To further examine the relationship between low frequency magnetic fields and dementia. Methods: From 23 general practices, 195 patients with dementia were recruited. Of these, 108 had possible Alzheimer’s disease, 59 had possible vascular dementia and 28 had secondary or unclassified dementia. A total of 229 controls were recruited: 122 population controls and 107 ambulatory patients free from dementia. Data were gathered in a structured personal interview; in cases, the interview was administered to the next of kin. Exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic fields was assessed by expert rating. To identify occupations suspected to be associated with dementia, major occupations were a priori formed. Odds ratios were calculated using logistic regression, to control for age, region, sex, dementia in parents and smoking. Results: Exposure to magnetic fields was not significantly associated with dementia; restriction of the analysis to cases with possible Alzheimer’s disease or possible vascular dementia did not lead to statistically significant results. We found an increased risk of dementia in blue-collar occupations (electrical and electronics workers, metal workers, construction workers, food and beverage processors and labourers). Conclusions: Our study does not support a strong association between occupational exposure to low-frequency magnetic fields and dementia. Further studies should consider the relationship between blue-collar work and the late development of dementia. ER -