The Impact of Extended Space Flights on Astronauts’ Brains

There’s no denying that prolonged space flights of six months or more can take a toll on astronauts’ cognitive function. A recent study suggests that crew members should allow a gap of at least three years before embarking on another space mission. Researchers examined the brain scans of 30 astronauts, taken before and after their space missions lasting two weeks, six months, or a year. Remarkably, the study discovered significant expansion of the ventricles – the cavities within the brain containing cerebrospinal fluid.

Rachael Seidler, the study’s lead author and professor of applied physiology at the University of Florida, said, “We found that the more time people spend in space, the larger their ventricles become.” She added, “Many astronauts travel in space more than once, and our study shows that it takes about three years between flights for the ventricles to fully recover.”

The study included eight astronauts who undertook two-week missions, 18 astronauts with six-month missions, and four astronauts who went on year-long missions. The researchers found that the extent of ventricular enlargement differed based on the duration of the astronauts’ stay in space.

Seidler noted, “The biggest jump comes when you go from two weeks to six months in space.” Surprisingly, there was no additional increase between six months and one year, indicating that ventricular enlargement may plateau after six months. “This is good news for future travelers to Mars, who may end up spending (about) two years in microgravity conditions,” she concluded.

Source: CNN