Author: David Rodriguez
According to a new study from fruit flies, the blue light generated by screens may impact our fundamental biological processes.
A study found that those who spend too much time on screens may get obese and experience psychological issues.
Detrimental effects on various cells in our body, including skin and fat cells and sensory neurons, may result from prolonged exposure to blue light from TVs, laptops, and phones.
According to the research, avoiding extensive blue light contact may be a beneficial anti-aging strategy.
A recent study on fruit flies concluded a new concern; the blue light produced by displays can impact our basic biological activities.
The study findings were documented in the journal Frontiers in Aging
Dr. Jadwiga Giebultowicz stated that excessive blue light exposure from commonplace devices might harm various cells in our bodies. This includes skin and fat cells as well as sensory neurons.
He further stated thus: we are the first to demonstrate that blue light-exposed fruit flies have changed amounts of particular metabolites, substances necessary for proper cell activity.
According to Giebultowicz’s research, avoiding excessive blue light exposure might be a successful anti-aging tactic.
Turn off the light
Based on a recent study by a scientist at Oregon State University, fruit flies are subjected to light switches on stress-protective genes. Nonetheless, those maintained in complete darkness lived longer. We examined the quantities of metabolites in flies subjected to blue light for fourteen days to those kept in the total dark.
The purpose was to comprehend why high-energy blue light is accountable for speeding aging in fruit flies, said Giebultowicz.
The researchers found that the quantities of metabolites they examined in the cells of fly heads were significantly different after exposure to blue light.
They discovered that glutamate levels were decreased while succinate levels were up.
Succinate is required to produce the fuel that powers each cell’s growth and operation. Giebultowicz compared high amounts of succinate to having gas at the pump but not stepping into the automobile after exposure to blue light. Another unsettling finding was that following exposure to blue light, chemicals necessary for neuronal connection, such as glutamate, are at a reduced level.
Accelerating aging
The researchers’ observations indicate that the cells may die prematurely due to inadequate functioning. This would also explain their earlier discovery that blue light speeds up aging.
Humans in advanced civilizations are exposed to blue light through ambient LED lighting. Most of the time, they are awake since LEDs have taken over as the primary illumination in display screens like phones, desktops, and TVs. According to Giebultowicz, the signaling chemicals in the fly and human cells are identical. Therefore, there is a chance that blue light will harm humans because
Future research aims to examine the impacts on human cells directly
People are exposed to less bright light than flies, so cellular damage may not be as severe in humans. The findings of this study imply that further investigation into human cells is required. This will help determine whether or not human cells may experience comparable alterations in metabolites involved in energy production in response to prolonged exposure to blue light.