Longer Space Flights Affect Different Brain Areas

A recent study discovered that when astronauts spend six months or more in space, some regions of their brain that hold fluid enlarge. The investigation was supported by NASA, the American space agency. The cerebral ventricles are the parts of the brain. Cerebrospinal fluid, a clear, watery substance that surrounds and enters the brain and spinal cord, is contained in them. The fluid shields the brain from impacts that happen suddenly. Waste items are also eliminated by the fluid. Researchers used brain scans from thirty astronauts as the basis for their study. They discovered that following extended space trips, the ventricles needed three years to fully revert to their original size. According to the findings, astronauts could have to wait three years or longer between extended space missions.

Heather McGregor is a neuroscientist at the University of Florida. The study was written primarily by her and was published in the journal Scientific Reports. She informed the Reuters news agency that the ventricles might not have as much room to enlarge on a subsequent trip to space if they do not have enough time to return to their normal size. This may have an impact on the brain’s capacity to adapt to the variations in gravity experienced by astronauts. Rachael Seidler teaches kinesiology and applied physiology at the University of Florida. She wrote the study’s introduction as well. “The impact of ventricular expansion is currently not known,” she stated, emphasizing the necessity for further research on the topic.

Because of gravity, the body’s vascular system contains valves that keep fluid from remaining at our feet on Earth. However, in the absence of gravity in space, the valves force the fluid closer to the head. This is most likely the source of the ventricular enlargement, according to Seidler. The brain is consequently positioned higher in the skull. Twenty-three male and seven female astronauts from the US, Canada, and European space agencies participated in the study. The astronauts were 47 years old on average. During around two-week-long space shuttle flights, eight astronauts were deployed. Eighteen spent roughly six months on International Space Station (ISS) missions. The remaining four participated in around one-year-long ISS missions.