Space travel would cause brain inflammation and irreversible cognitive impairment, according to a study commissioned by NASA.
Life on Mars is definitely not for tomorrow … Space travel would affect cognitive abilities and cause serious neurological disorders to emerge, according to a study published in the journal Science Advances and commissioned by NASA.
Radiation from the cosmos
In question: the exposure to radiations which radiate in the cosmos, and which will cross the body of the astronauts during long space voyages. These radiations are suspected of damaging the central nervous system and causing permanent cognitive impairment.
“This is not good news for astronauts who will make a two to three year round trip to Mars,” said Charles Limoli, University of California at Irvine, lead author of the study. This work is in fact part of the NASA research program on the effects of prolonged space stays on humans. They aim to prepare for future manned missions to Mars
Inflammation in the brain
The experiment was conducted on mice, which the researchers subjected to high-energy particle radiation at the Brookhaven National Laboratory (New York, northeast). They found that this radiation caused inflammation in the rodent brain and disrupted the transmission of nerve signals.
The scans thus revealed an alteration of the communications network within the brain. This alteration would be linked to a reduction in the structure of neurons and a modification of synapses, which connect neurons to each other. These structural changes would have reduced the ability of nerve cells to transmit electrochemical signals efficiently. In the course of the experiment, this resulted in a drop in performance on tests to assess the ability to learn and remember.
Lifelong sequelae
In astronauts, these cognitive deficits would not manifest themselves for several months, explain the authors. But the duration of a mission to Mars would be sufficient for these symptoms to appear.
“Decreased work capacity, memory deficits and loss of consciousness, as well as difficulty concentrating during space flights could affect essential mission activities,” the researchers explain. These cosmic radiations could alter the cognitive capacities of astronauts throughout their life ”. A painful reminder of our condition as earthlings …
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