Long Stay On Space Affect Astronaut’s Brain

New study says the long stay on space or long term spacefligt can affect one’s astronaut brain.The astronauts’ brains swell and due to swelling there is a build-up fluid in the eyes which results to eye health problems as aside from the swelling brain.

The study says this is due to long exposure to mcrogravity and “no gravity”.The effects can last long after the astronauts are already on the earth as the news said.Not only the brain could be affected due to long exposure to microgravity and “ no gravity” but also the other parts of the body.

“Prior research has shown that long-term space missions can lead to bone and muscle degeneration due to the impact of extended freefall on the body. Some studies have also shown that it can lead to minor loss of visual acuity due to fluid buildup in the eyes. In this new effort, the researchers wanted to know what effects such missions might have on the brains of those who remain in space for long periods of time….. The researchers found that the brain reorients itself during long space missions, essentially floating into different parts of the skull. This resulted in slight reorganization of the brain itself in response to the reorientation. The cosmonauts brains also responded in other ways to the unusual living environment—they acquired new motor skills and had better balance and coordination. The researchers also found that the reorientation did not result in neurodegeneration and that normal orientation was nearly restored seven months after the cosmonauts returned to Earth. They also confirmed fluid build-up behind the eyes as the reason for the loss of visual acuity during long space flights.” (Phys)

“……with long-duration exposure to microgravity, the brain swells and cerebrospinal fluid, which surrounds the brain and spinal cord, increases in volume. These findings support the theory that spaceflight increases pressure in the head which researchers think could be tied to issues with astronaut vision……” (Space)

“It turns out that spending time in space can change your brain….. But one new study suggests that spaceflight could affect the human brain in strange and unusual ways, which could impair astronaut eyesight and last for a long time.” (Space)

“……. astronauts have reported issues with vision after traveling to space. Medical evaluations on Earth have revealed that astronauts' optic nerves swell and some experience retinal hemorrhage and other structural changes to their eyes. Scientists suspect that these vision issues are caused by increased "intracranial pressure," or pressure in the head, during spaceflight. In a new study led by Dr. Larry Kramer, a radiologist at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, researchers have found evidence that this pressure does, in fact, increase in microgravity. “ (Space)

“Researchers have been exploring how spaceflight can affect human physiology and human health for as long as we have been working to launch people to space.” (Space)