A Bunch of ADHD Ratatouille?

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Jeff Hamilton

OK, this is an interesting read, but I also think it needs to be taken with a grain of salt, that’s just my opinion though. In an article that just came out on Mashable.com entitled Cell Phone Radiation Causes ADHD in Lab Mice, researchers have found the effects of cell phone radiation on the offspring of pregnant mice could result in developmental disabilities including ADHD. Now my first question is……….is there an expert on ADHD with mice at Yale who determined this? Secondly, how is it determined that a mouse suffers from ADHD? Really, come on. Whats next, a mouse named Remy that can cook ratatouille? Third, my last curiosity is, well I don’t really have a third curiosity. However, is it just me or does this story seem like a little bit of a reach? I guess that could count as my third curiosity. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for research and development, lab mice have been very instrumental in supporting important medical break through work. Sorry if I’ve offended any mouse protection groups. This just seems a little odd to me that ADHD can be detected in a lab mouse, who typically scurries around a cage endlessly and stops at the exercise wheel, water break station, takes in life among the other mice for 3 seconds in cages and then runs the same cyclical habit a thousand more times like it is hyped upon crack. I don’t know, what do you think? I’m sure the minds at Yale know a lot more than I do. Perhaps a different result would be found if the lab mice used a Bluetooth device? Yes, I know the picture is of a rat, I’m just having fun :)

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One Response to A Bunch of ADHD Ratatouille?

  1. Margaret says:
    March 22, 2012 at 8:51 am

    OMG, I can’t stop laughing!! Now, knowing myself and my lack of filter, the next time I see my vet, I am going to have to ask him about the criteria for ADHD in mice. Do vets have their version of the DSM IV?

    And, my question – where did they get the teeny tiny little cell phones for the mama mice to use? Did they just phone other mice, or did they text too? Did the Mama mice who had cell phones start to wear make-up and hair spray their fur and think they were all that and a bag of chips? So maybe the results were due to chemical exposure in the mice make-up and hairspray, and only incidentally due to the cell phone radiation? Is it possible that the “Cell phone mamas”(CPM’s) had better access to party information, and so developed a different lifestyle then the traditional mice? More access to alcohol and mice recreational drugs? Perhaps they started smoking? Started drinking more coffee in the morning to make up for lack of sleep due to late nights partying? Had poorer nutrition after spending their disposable income (what do you get paid to be a lab mouse, anyway?) on new party clothes, alcohol and cigarettes? And with their new lifestyles, did they choose to bottle feed mouse formula instead of breast feeding their little litters? And is it possible that the change in lifestyle led to some premature little mousekateers, which is indeed linked to ADHD (at least in humans?)

    Clearly there are a lot of possible confounding factors in this reasearch.

    Also, just as clearly, my meds have completely worn off, and I should stop typing now. (My husband is nodding vigorously to this last sentence!)

    Reply

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