{"id":18043,"date":"2022-10-11T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-10T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=18043"},"modified":"2022-11-02T12:48:41","modified_gmt":"2022-11-02T11:48:41","slug":"your-phone-screen-could-be-ageing-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/2022\/10\/11\/your-phone-screen-could-be-ageing-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Your phone screen could be ageing you"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

YOUR PHONE SCREEN COULD BE AGEING YOU<\/h2>\n\n

Study on fruit flies suggests blue light could have a significant effect on cell function <\/p>\n\n

We are often told that too much time spent on smartphones isn\u2019t good for us, and now a new study suggests that it could even be increasing the speed at which we age. <\/p>\n\n

Researchers from Oregon State University used fruit flies to test the effects of blue light. They found evidence that our basic cellular functions could be impacted by this light that is emitted from smartphones and other devices. <\/p>\n\n

\"\"
Blue light is emitted by LEDs, which are present in many modern gadgets, such as smartphones, laptop screens and flatscreen TVs <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

\u201cExcessive exposure to blue light from everyday devices, such as TVs, laptops, and phones, may have detrimental effects on a wide range of cells in our body, from skin and fat cells, to sensory neurons,\u201d said senior author Prof Jadwiga Giebultowicz, of Oregon State University.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

\u201cWe are the first to show that the levels of specific metabolites \u2013 chemicals that are essential for cells to function correctly \u2013 are altered in fruit flies exposed to blue light. Our study suggests that avoidance of excessive blue light exposure may be a good anti-ageing strategy.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

In their research, the team found that fruit flies exposed to blue light activated their stress protective genes. The fruit flies that were kept in constant darkness were found to live longer. <\/p>\n\n

\u201cTo understand why high-energy blue light is responsible for accelerating ageing in fruit flies, we compared the levels of metabolites in flies exposed to blue light for two weeks to those kept in complete darkness,\u201d said Giebultowicz. <\/p>\n\n

Metabolites are substances that are made or used when the body is breaking things down, including drugs, food, chemicals or anything you put in your body. The researchers discovered that blue light exposure caused large differences in the levels of metabolites in the cells of the fly heads. In particular, they found that levels of the metabolite succinate increased, but glutamate lowered. <\/p>\n\n

\u201cSuccinate is essential for producing the fuel for the function and growth of each cell. High levels of succinate after exposure to blue light can be compared to gas being in the pump but not getting into the car,\u201d said Giebultowicz. <\/p>\n\n

\u201cAnother troubling discovery was that molecules responsible for communication between neurons, such as glutamate, are at the lower level after blue light exposure.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

The results of this study could suggest that cells perform at suboptimal levels with blue light exposure, causing their early death. This could then lead to accelerated ageing if subjects are exposed to too much blue light. <\/p>\n\n

While the results from the study are an indication of how blue light could affect humans, it isn\u2019t a perfect comparison and the researchers are now hoping to perform further research on human cells. <\/p>\n\n

<\/div>
\n

SCREEN USE: <\/span>
IN NUMBERS<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In April 2022, researchers at the University of Leeds surveyed 500 UK adults about their daily screen use. Here\u2019s what they found. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

One-quarter of those surveyed looked at screens for upwards of 14 hours a day. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

One-half said their screen use had increased during the lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Four in 10 said they\u2019d experienced physical side effects, including eye strain, headaches and fatigue. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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