Extended Trips to Space Alter the Brains of Astronauts -
The idea here is to understand what happens to a physical trait that evolved in a gravity well when it goes to space. “We all adapted to use gravity in our favor,” Piantino said. “Nature didn’t put our brains in our feet—it put them high up. Once you remove gravity from the equation, what does that do to human physiology?”
Researchers decided to find out by measuring the perivascular spaces in astronaut brains. These are where cerebrospinal fluid flows in the brain. They are part of a system-wide brain cleansing that occurs during sleep called the “glymphatic system”. Among other things, it clears metabolic proteins that would otherwise build up in the brain. Scientists say this system seems to perform optimally during deep sleep.
This composite of astronaut brain scans shows changes related to spaceflight. Courtesy Juan Piantino, M.D. The differences were pretty interesting, and a bit unexpected in one way. The brains of first-time space travelers showed increases in the perivascular spaces. The brains of old-timers didn’t show that kind of change. It’s fairly clear to Piantino and the team that the experienced space fliers had somehow adapted. They aren’t quite sure why. So, that will take further study.
Despite these changes, astronauts in the study had no problems with balance or visual memories. They didn’t show any other neurological deficits due to the changes in their perivascular spaces. That provides some interesting research avenues for doctors mapping how the body responds to space.This study has some interesting implications for Earth-bound patients suffering from specific kinds of brain disorders.
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