Daily exposure to low-intensity blue light (BLE) affected aging and circadian rhythms in fruit flies. Billions of people using smartphones and other screen-based devices face similar light exposure every day. The research was published in the journal PNAS Port.
Biologists uncover male fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) daily exposure to low-intensity BLE for varying periods of time. When they were 25 days old, they were compared to flies grown in the dark.
Blue light led to changes in gene activity and functioning of N6-methyladenosine (m6A), a molecule that plays an important role in the aging process and the regulation of circadian rhythms. The types of genes whose activity changes suggest that exposure to blue light may damage nerve cell function.
Overall, blue light had the greatest effect on the fruit flies’ eye and brain tissue. More studies need to continue on the potential dangers of blue light exposure in humans, according to the study’s authors.
Previous scientists I learnedthat giving up smartphones altogether is detrimental to adolescents’ health.