Prolonged exposure to weightlessness inflates the brain. Free Technical Library News

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Prolonged stay in weightlessness inflates the brain

17.06.2023

Prolonged stay in space under conditions of weightlessness can cause the expansion of the ventricles of the brain, and their recovery to normal size takes about three years after returning to Earth. This interesting discovery was made by researchers at the University of Florida who were studying the effect of space travel on the brain structure of astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS).

Inside our brain are cavities called ventricles, and they are filled with cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid performs important functions by providing nutrition and protection to the nervous tissue, as well as removing metabolic waste. However, a long stay in a space environment with zero gravity leads to changes in this system. The ventricles of the brain adapt to weightlessness and begin to expand. When astronauts return to Earth, it takes a long time for these ventricles to regain their normal size.

The study was conducted on 30 astronauts, including different groups according to the duration of space flights. As a result of the study of astronauts who spent about two weeks on the ISS, it was found that the size of the ventricles remained practically unchanged. However, during semi-annual and annual missions, the size of the ventricles increased significantly. Interestingly, there were no noticeable differences between semi-annual and annual flight participants, indicating a slowdown in the process of ventricular expansion over time.

It was also found that previous space flight experience influenced the change in the size of the ventricles. The size of the brain ventricles of astronauts participating in repeat space missions less than three years later remained virtually unchanged. However, if the interval between missions exceeded three years (in the studied group from three to nine years), the ventricles again began to increase in size. Based on this, the scientists concluded that in about three years the brain cavities restore their normal size, corresponding to earthly conditions.

This discovery is important for future space missions and planning for astronauts in space. Understanding the changes that occur in the brain under weightless conditions will help develop effective methods for protecting the nervous system and maintaining the health of crews during long space flights.

This new scientific data allows us to gain a deeper understanding of how the space environment affects the human body, especially its nervous system and brain. This opens up new opportunities for research and development of methods for protecting and adapting the body to space conditions, in order to ensure the safety and success of future missions to the ISS and further space exploration.

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