A recent study carried out by the School of Medicine of the University of California (USA) concludes that cosmic rays can cause permanent brain damage , a finding with direct consequences on astronauts who are going to make long-term space travel . The study has been published in the journal Science Advances .
Prolonged exposure to the highly energetic particles that bombard astronauts during their space travels – such as those experienced by the participants on the next trip to Mars – cause damage to the central nervous system, leading to cognitive impairment; This results in memory problems, loss of consciousness, decreased cognitive performance, and loss of attention.
The experiment was tested in mice and the results showed that exposure to these particles caused inflammation in the brains of rodents, and the energy particles caused the breakdown of dendrites (a circumstance associated with the cognitive deterioration of diseases such as Alzheimer’s) .
These collateral effects of cosmic rays “during a space flight can affect the fundamental activities of the mission and the prolonged exposure in time to these particles can have long-term negative consequences for cognition throughout life “, explains Charles Limoli , study leader.
Is there some kind of solution to protect against this particle bombardment in the face of long-term space travel? Scientists are currently working on preventive solutions to face this problem, such as the creation of compounds that eliminate free radicals and protect neuronal transmission, “but these are options that are still under development and have to be optimized”, clarifies Limoli .
