MSGID: 1:317/3 6274a4c7   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    New study reveals the effect of extended space flight on astronauts'   
   brains    
      
     Date:   
         May 5, 2022   
     Source:   
         Oregon Health & Science University   
     Summary:   
         Long-duration space flight alters fluid-filled spaces along veins   
         and arteries in the brain, according to new research.   
      
      
      
   FULL STORY   
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   Long-duration space flight alters fluid-filled spaces along veins and   
   arteries in the brain, according to new research from Oregon Health &   
   Science University and scientists across the country.   
      
      
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   "These findings have important implications as we continue space   
   exploration," said senior author Juan Piantino, M.D., assistant professor   
   of pediatrics (neurology) in the OHSU School of Medicine. "It also   
   forces you to think about some basic fundamental questions of science   
   and how life evolved here on Earth."  The research involved imaging the   
   brains of 15 astronauts before and after extended tours of duty on the   
   International Space Station.   
      
   Researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to measure perivascular space   
   -- or the space around blood vessels -- in the brains of astronauts   
   prior to their launch and again immediately after their return. They   
   also took MRI measurements again at one, three and six months after they   
   had returned.   
      
   Astronauts' images were compared with those taken of the same perivascular   
   space in the brains of 16 Earth-bound control subjects.   
      
   Comparing before and after images, they found an increase in the   
   perivascular spaces within the brains of first-time astronauts, but   
   no difference among astronauts who previously served aboard the space   
   station orbiting earth.   
      
   "Experienced astronauts may have reached some kind of homeostasis,"   
   Piantino said.   
      
      
      
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   In all cases, scientists found no problems with balance or visual memories   
   that might suggest neurological deficits among astronauts, despite the   
   differences measured in the perivascular spaces of their brains.   
      
   In comparing a large group of deidentified astronauts, the study is   
   the first to comparatively assess an important aspect of brain health   
   in space.   
      
   Brains in space Human physiology is based on the fact that life   
   evolved over millions of years while tethered to Earth's gravitational   
   pull. Unbound by the forces of gravity, the normal flow of cerebrospinal   
   fluid in the brain is altered in space.   
      
   "We all adapted to use gravity in our favor," Piantino said. "Nature   
   didn't put our brains in our feet -- it put them high up. Once you   
   remove gravity from the equation, what does that do to human physiology?"   
   Researchers decided to find out by measuring perivascular spaces, where   
   cerebrospinal fluid flows in the brain.   
      
      
      
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   These spaces are integral to a natural system of brain cleansing that   
   occurs during sleep. Known as the glymphatic system, this brain-wide   
   network clears metabolic proteins that would otherwise build up in the   
   brain. Scientists say this system seems to perform optimally during   
   deep sleep.   
      
   The perivascular spaces measured in the brain amount to the underlying   
   "hardware" of the glymphatic system. Enlargement of these spaces occurs   
   in aging, and also has been associated with the development of dementia.   
      
   Researchers used a technique developed in the laboratory of co-author   
   Lisa C.   
      
   Silbert, M.D., M.C.R., professor of neurology in the OHSU School of   
   Medicine, to measure changes in these perivascular spaces through   
   MRI scans.   
      
   Piantino said the study could be valuable in helping to diagnose and   
   treat Earth-bound disorders involving cerebrospinal fluid, such as   
   hydrocephalus.   
      
   "These findings not only help to understand fundamental changes that   
   happen during space flight, but also for people on Earth who suffer from   
   diseases that affect circulation of cerebrospinal fluid," Piantino said.   
      
   In addition to Piantino and Silbert, co-authors included first authors   
   Kathleen E. Hupfeld and Sutton B. Richmond of the University of Florida;   
   Heather R.   
      
   McGregor and Rachael D. Seidler of the University of Florida; Daniel L.   
      
   Schwartz and Madison N. Luther of OHSU; Nichole E. Beltran, Igor   
   S. Kofman, Yiri E. De Dios and Ajitkumar P. Mulavara of PBR in Houston;   
   Roy F. Riascos of the University of Texas Health Science Center; Scott   
   J. Wood and Jacob J.   
      
   Bloomberg of NASA; and Jeffrey J. Iliff of the University of Washington   
   School of Medicine and the VA Puget Sound Health Care System.   
      
   The research was supported by the National Aeronautics and Space   
   Administration, grant NNX11AR02G; the National Space Biomedical Research   
   Institute, award NCC 9-58; the National Science Foundation Graduate   
   Research Fellowship, grants DGE-1315138 and DGE-1842473; the National   
   Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, grant T32-NS082128; the   
   National Institute on Aging fellowship 1F99AG068440 and grant awards   
   R01AG056712, P30AG008017 and P30AG066518; and the National Heart Lung   
   and Blood Institute, grant K23HL150217-01.   
      
   The co-authors also thank all of the astronauts who volunteered their   
   time, without whom this project would not have been possible.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Story Source: Materials provided by   
   Oregon_Health_&_Science_University. Original written by Erik   
   Robinson. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Journal Reference:   
      1. Kathleen E. Hupfeld, Sutton B. Richmond, Heather R. McGregor,   
      Daniel L.   
      
         Schwartz, Madison N. Luther, Nichole E. Beltran, Igor S. Kofman,   
         Yiri E.   
      
         De Dios, Roy F. Riascos, Scott J. Wood, Jacob J. Bloomberg,   
         Ajitkumar P.   
      
         Mulavara, Lisa C. Silbert, Jeffrey J. Iliff, Rachael D. Seidler,   
         Juan Piantino. Longitudinal MRI-visible perivascular space (PVS)   
         changes with long-duration spaceflight. Scientific Reports, 2022;   
         12 (1) DOI: 10.1038/ s41598-022-11593-y   
   ==========================================================================   
      
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220505085608.htm   
      
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