In space weightlessness, blood flow to the brain can be affected. Photo: File
Pasadena, California: Researchers have warned that astronauts spending six months or more in space have negative effects on their brains, so they should take a break of at least 3 years between their 2 trips.
For the study, researchers examined the brain scans of 30 astronauts to examine the effects on their brains before and after a space mission.
Participants for the study included astronauts who had spent two weeks, six months and one year on space missions. Eight of the astronauts went on the shortest missions, four on the longest missions and the remaining 18 went for six months.
“We found that the more time people spend in space, the larger their cerebral ventricles become,” said study author Rachel Sadler, professor of applied physiology and kinesiology at the University of Florida. Many astronauts travel to space more than once, and our study shows that it takes about three years for the cerebral ventricles to fully heal.
This is because gravity also plays an important role in regulating our blood flow. In space weightlessness, not only the flow of bodily fluids is affected. Likewise, the blood supply to the brain can also be affected, which can have long-term negative effects.
(function(d, s, id){
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;}
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3&appId=770767426360150”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));
(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.7”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));