Spending Longer Time in Space Can Have Detrimental Effect on Human Brain: Study Reveals

It has been long acknowledged that spending a longer time in space can have detrimental effects on human body. But now research has come up with the view that, long space journey creates setbacks for the human brain too. The study, conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Michigan has revealed that space travels and longer stay in the microgravity area of space physically impacts the travelers on multiple levels, including their brain. However, in which manner, the microgravity affects the human brain is still unsolved, and scientists are trying hard to understand the factor.

Some earlier studies, conducted for exploring the impacts of spaceflights on astronauts have already disclosed that, when uncovered and paid out a longer period of time in the outer space, an astronaut is likely to have disadvantageous effects on their body and supporting these previous research, the new study also verified that extended periods in spaceflight definitely brings major transformations in astronauts’ brains.

In the study paper, the scientists clearly highlight that astronauts who used to spend a longer time in outer space experience some major changes in both their body and psyche. The time, used up in space affects their brain and its development too. Some of the physical changes that space travels causes include the degradation of muscle that can be counterbalanced by some particular type of work out regiments reported Yahoo in its one of its statement. But the new study hits upon the fact that, microgravity can encroach on the human brain in such a manner that even science is still botched to understand.

The research, led by a Professor at the University of Michigan, Rachael Seidler includes 26 astronauts and makes the MRI scans of their brain, before and after taking spaceflights for spending time in outer space. The brains and bodies of all 26 astronauts have been fully scrutinized scanned before and after their stays in the outer space. Among the 26 participators, 12 astronauts are the crew members of a shuttle who spend only two weeks in space, while the rest 14 people are inhabited on the International Space Station for more than six months. Right after the MRI scans, the researchers found some notable changes in the brains of all 26 astronauts.

As highlighted by the study, after the examinations, the scientists found a large number of changes in several areas of the brain. The volumes of the gray matter are found to be dropped down after spaceflights, which in other ways could cause the redeployment of cerebrospinal liquid on space. The microgravity in the space is unable to drag fluids down in the body, and the aftermath of this unsuccessful attempt of gravity is called “puffy face” which eventually brings changes in brain comprehension or location. Simply putting, the impact of microgravity of space can cause change the physical position of the brain.