Traveling in space and moving away from Earth’s gravity would increase the risk of cognitive decline and memory impairment, according to the results of a study published in the medical journal Nature. This is because exposure to highly energetically charged particles, such as those found in galactic cosmic rays, causes significant long-term brain damage in rodents resulting in cognitive impairment and dementia.
Researchers at the University of California in the United States have subjected rodents to irradiation of charged particles (fully ionized oxygen and titanium) similar to those in space.
Six months after the exposure, the researchers found significant levels of brain inflammation and damage to neurons.
Exposing the brain to galactic cosmic rays promotes cognitive decline
MRI scans have revealed that the brain’s neural network has been altered, reducing the transmission of signals between brain cells. Particle exposure also contributed to poor performance of behavioral tasks aimed at testing learning and memory.
“The space environment poses definite risks for astronauts. Exposure to these particles can lead to central nervous system complications that can occur during and persist long after space travel, such as decreased blood pressure. performance, memory deficits,anxiety, the depression and negative consequences on cognition that can progress throughout life, ”explains Charles Limoli, researcher at the University and author of the study.
This study confirms the findings of research carried out by American researchers from the Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York (United States) and published in 2015 by the specialized journal Science Advances. It revealed that “any human who set foot on Mars would risk leaving his skin there. Or rather his brain. Exposure to cosmic radiation would cause brain inflammation as well as serious cognitive impairment. The radiation would hinder the proper transmission of signals. nervous”.
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