Spaceflight Alters Astronaut Brains
Participants included space shuttle and ISS missions, compared to 24 civilians on 6-degree head-down bed rest for 60 days.
Affected brain regions showed 2mm movement, visible to eye; astronauts had larger shifts than bed-rest participants.
Return to Earth caused balance challenges, no serious symptoms like headaches or cognitive issues.
Seidler urged more research on sex, age, and gravity effects on recovery, with small sample size (up to 12 astronauts/year, mostly men).
4 days ago