Research summary, narrative review, 2012

Cognitive, psychological and psychiatric effects of ionizing radiation exposure

Marazziti D, Baroni S, Catena-Dell'Osso M, Schiavi E, Ceresoli D, Conversano C, et al.. Current medicinal chemistry. 2012

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In plain language

This review summarises evidence, largely from brain irradiation studies, that radiation can damage brain tissue and may affect cognition and mental health. It does not directly study fluoroscopy staff or occupational dose levels.

At a glance

Type of study
Narrative review
Summary based on
the abstract

What it found

  • Radiation exposure is associated with increased cancer risk and possibly non-cancer risks including cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative effects.

  • Animal and human brain irradiation studies show apoptosis, neuroinflammation, myelin loss and damage to neural stem cells with long-term impairment of adult neurogenesis.

  • The review examines radiation effects on cognition and psychological function and their possible role in psychiatric disorders.

Limits to keep in mind

Narrative review summarised from an abstract only. Much of the cited evidence comes from brain irradiation in animals and humans, likely at doses far above occupational levels, so relevance to fluoroscopy staff is uncertain.

How this summary was made

ORSIF prepared this summary with AI assistance from the abstract of the paper. A program then checked that the passage supporting each finding appears word for word in that source. A person has not yet reviewed each summary, so read the original before relying on a number. ORSIF summarizes research and does not endorse any product or company. Report a problem with this summary.

Prepared November 3, 2026.