Multiple spaceflight with shorter recovery time affects brain

Subject : Science and technology

Section: Space technology

Concept :

A recent research published in Scientific Reports reveals that spaceflight experiences, especially longer missions and shorter breaks between missions, can cause changes in the fluid levels in the brain. These changes might not go back to normal before the next spaceflight.
The study found that the ventricles, which are spaces in the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid, expand more as the length of space missions increases, especially up to six months.
Additionally, if there is less than a three-year gap between missions, it may not be enough time for the ventricles to fully recover.
It is unclear if these changes differ with varying mission duration or number of previous spaceflight missions.

Ventricles of the Brain

The ventricular system is a set of communicating cavities within the brain. These structures are responsible for the production, transport and removal of cerebrospinal fluid, which bathes the central nervous system.
The ventricles are structures that produce cerebrospinal fluid, and transport it around the cranial cavity. They are lined by ependymal cells, which form a structure called the choroid plexus. It is within the choroid plexus that CSF is produced.
Embryologically, the ventricular system is derived from the lumen of the neural tube.
In total, there are four ventricles; right and left lateral ventricles, third ventricle and fourth ventricle.