Prolonged exposure to galactic cosmic rays can permanently impair cognitive ability, discovery with implications for astronauts embarking on future long-term space travel.
The NASA is preparing for the first manned space mission to Mars, but researchers say that during long space flights the brain of an astronaut is beset by “destructive particles” that are expelled by lightning Galactic cosmic and passing through spacecraft.
Scientists are working on partial solutions or preventive treatments to tackle this problem, but still have a way to go.
Professor of Radiation Oncology School of Medicine, University of California, Charles Limoli, led a study published today by “Science Advances” on the issue and said “is not good news for astronauts who make a round trip to Mars for two or three years. ”
The exposure to highly energetic charged particles -very similar to those found in cosmic rays that bombard astronauts during spaceflight prolongados- cause significant damage to the central nervous system, which generates a cognitive impairment.
Decreases performance, memory deficits, loss of consciousness and attention are problems “during a space flight could affect the fundamental activities of the mission,” said the doctor.
In addition to prolonged exposure to these particles time “can have negative long-term consequences for cognition throughout life”.
Limoli and his team accelerated the same types of charged particles that exist in galactic cosmic rays and exposed them briefly, mice genetically altered so that their neurons were fluorescent.
Thus, found that exposure to these particles caused inflammation in the brains of rodents, which alter the communication between neurons, in addition to lower yields occur in the tasks related to learning and memory .
The particles hit “like a bullet” in very short -prolongaciones dendrites arising from the body of the neurons- to be broken, says the study, which notes that the loss of dendrites is related to the deterioration cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
The result of the tests showed that the mice that had been exposed to radiation suffered from curiosity, were less active and showed confused more easily than others.
The study authors warn that if the changes observed in mice occur in astronauts “their response to unexpected situations, their capacity for spatial reasoning and remembering information may be affected.”
Although cognitive deficits would take months to manifest in astronauts, Limoli said the time required to perform a mission on Mars is sufficient for such problems develop.
However, the staff who work for long periods of time on the International Space Station does not suffer the same level of “bombing” of galactic cosmic rays, as it is located within the magnetosphere of the Earth, that protects it.
Limoli work is part of the Human Research Program at NASA. Investigating how radiation affects astronauts and try to discover methods to mitigate those effects is crucial to extend human exploration of space.
As a solution, at least part of this problem, Limoli said could design a spaceship to areas where there was a reinforced armor, like those used for rest and sleep.
However, these highly energetic particles pass through the ship and “really no way to escape them,” he acknowledged.
Preventive treatment offer some hope. “We are working on strategies pharmacological compounds that scavenge free radicals and protect neuronal transmission”, but options are still developing and have to be optimized. “
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