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Journalism of Courage
Of late, an online debate has been raging on whether people should turn off their Wi-Fi connection at night as otherwise, it could impact their sleep and brain function. While some fears arise from the idea that radio frequency (RF) signals from devices may negatively affect or disturb brain function, the scientific evidence is not that drastic.
“The problem is that much of the alarmist studies are on animals rather than human subjects. More customised studies are needed to establish cause and effect. This is the reason that Wi-Fi studies on mice, which indicated that exposure to Wi-Fi could have triggered infertility in them, was not borne out by human studies,” says Dr Praveen Gupta, Chairman, Marengo Asia International Institute of Neuro & Spine (MAIINS), Marengo Asia Hospitals, Gurugram.
Wi-Fi is a radio signal sent from a wireless router to a nearby device, which translates the signal into data you can see and use. This has led to confusing theories about radiation damaging the brain. Truth is Wi-Fi uses non-ionizing radiation, which is significantly weaker in comparison to CT scans or X-rays. Non-ionizing radiofrequency signals are not strong enough to impair brain cells, let alone alter one’s DNA. Numerous studies thus far have not identified a direct link between Wi-Fi exposure and brain tumours, memory loss, or neurodegenerative diseases.
However, some research has created confusion by suggesting that extended exposure to radio-frequency waves will affect brain function subtly, mostly in sleep cycles. While Wi-Fi or mobile radiation could slightly affect brain waves during deep sleep, these changes are negligible and not clinically meaningful for the general population. We know poor sleep quality is more often associated with stress, screen time before bed, irregular sleep routines, or active sleep disorders, and not Wi-Fi signals.
From a practical standpoint, what matters most for brain health is a good sleep hygiene (keeping screens away leading up to bedtime, having a quiet and dark environment to sleep in, and keeping to a schedule), and not much else. Turning off your Wi-Fi at night may help indirectly but only because it prevents you from getting on the internet late. The signals themselves can have no harmful effects.
There is no strong scientific data to suggest that leaving Wi-Fi on at night can be damaging to the brain. But if turning it off prevents distractions or helps you sleep better, this is still a good habit to practise. Brain health declines with prolonged periods of sleep deprivation, poor lifestyle and quality of life.
That Wi-Fi causes cancer is a myth. Extensive research, including studies reviewed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other reputable health organisations, has found no causal relationship between Wi-Fi exposure and cancer development. These organisations maintain that Wi- Fi is safe when used within standard exposure limits.
That it is dangerous for pregnant women and their unborn children. However, there are no proven risks to foetal development from Wi-Fi exposure.
There is a belief that Wi-Fi can interfere with medical devices such as pacemakers and hearing aids. However, modern medical devices are designed to withstand RF interference, and numerous studies have shown that Wi-Fi does not disrupt their operation. Regulatory standards ensure that both Wi-Fi equipment and medical devices operate safely together.
