Yale Study Links Low-Level Wireless Radiation to Autism-Related Changes in Developing Brain Models

A study by Yale researchers, published in Cell Reports, found that exposure to wireless radiofrequency (RF) radiation from cell phones, Wi-Fi, and cell towers disrupted neurodevelopment and increased autism-related gene expression in lab-grown fetal brain models. Using human cortical organoids—miniature brain models derived from stem cells that mimic early fetal brain structures—the team observed that RF exposure delayed neuron differentiation, altered cell function and morphology, and increased dendritic spine density, a characteristic linked to autism spectrum disorder.

The study used RF levels 4,000 times lower than the FCC’s exposure limits, highlighting potential risks at everyday exposure levels. Previous animal and human studies have associated prenatal and early-life RF exposure with cognitive and behavioral effects. Experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend reducing children’s exposure, as their developing brains absorb more radiation. Researchers stress that current FCC limits, set in 1996, are outdated and do not adequately protect children or fetuses.

18-12-2025