Study Investigates , the Impact of Space Travel , on Astronauts' Brains.<br />A new study suggests that <br />long space missions could be <br />damaging to the brains of astronauts. .<br />A new study suggests that <br />long space missions could be <br />damaging to the brains of astronauts. .<br />'The Independent' reports that spending a long time<br />in space requires three years for the brain <br />to recover from changes caused by long journeys. .<br />The study focused on how the brain responds to leaving <br />Earth's gravity, which has become a critical question<br />on the advent of increasingly long journeys into space.<br />Brain scans of 30 astronauts taken before and after their <br />journeys into space found that trips over six months <br />significantly expanded ventricles in the brain.<br />Ventricles are fluid filled cavities <br />that protects and nourishes the brain. .<br />'The Independent' reports that without the Earth's <br />gravity, the fluid pushes upward in the body <br />and forces the brain higher in the skull.<br />'The Independent' reports that without the Earth's <br />gravity, the fluid pushes upward in the body <br />and forces the brain higher in the skull.<br />We found that the more <br />time people spent in space, <br />the larger their ventricles became. , Rachael Seidler, Study author and professor of applied physiology <br />and kinesiology at the University of Florida, via 'The Independent'.<br />Many astronauts travel to space more <br />than one time, and our study shows <br />it takes about three years between <br />flights for the ventricles to fully recover, Rachael Seidler, Study author and professor of applied physiology <br />and kinesiology at the University of Florida, via 'The Independent'.<br />'The Independent' reports that the study found <br />that short trips under two weeks resulted <br />in no noticeable change in the brain.<br />According to the findings, after six months in space <br />and without the Earth's gravity, changes in <br />astronauts' brains appeared to stop progressing.<br />'The Independent' points out that researchers have yet to <br />examine space trips over one year, but the results from <br />six to 12 months appear promising for future astronauts.
