Astronauts on Extended Journeys May Encounter Space Headaches, Demonstrating Microgravity's Impact on the Human Brain

Space travel poses challenges to physical health, potentially impacting the immune system and increasing red blood cell mortality, along with bone density loss. Furthermore, astronauts may encounter headaches, including migraines and tension-type headaches, particularly on extended missions lasting over 10 days.

The study, titled "Frequency and Clinical Features of Space Headache Experienced by Astronauts During Long-Haul Space Flights" published in Neurology, highlights how gravitational changes affect various bodily functions, including balance and posture.

Space Headaches: A Study of Astronaut Health During ISS Missions

The study, involving 24 astronauts from NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), delved into the impact of International Space Station (ISS) missions on astronauts' headache experiences.

Before the study commenced, nine astronauts had no history of headaches, while three had encountered major headaches in the past year, affecting their daily lives. None had previously been diagnosed with migraines. During their time aboard the ISS, 22 astronauts reported experiencing headaches, with a collective total of 378 headaches documented over a combined 3,596 days in space.

Comparatively, while 38% of astronauts had encountered headaches on Earth before space travel, a striking 92% experienced headaches during their missions, with 90 percent categorized as tension-type headaches and the remaining 10% classified as migraines.

Lead researcher W. P. J. van Oosterhout from Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands highlighted the effects of gravity changes on the body, particularly the vestibular system, which can induce space motion sickness and potentially contribute to headaches.

Headaches during space missions were notably more severe, with a higher likelihood of migraine-like symptoms observed in the first week of flight. However, no headaches were reported by astronauts in the three months following their return to Earth.

READ ALSO: Sleeping in Space: Microgravity Changes the Sleep Structure of Astronauts in Space

Understanding the Impact of Space Travel on Human Brain and Behavior

Understanding the effects of space travel on the human brain and behavior is crucial as plans for voyages to Mars and other distant destinations evolve. Previous research spanning a decade has revealed two concurrent trends: dysfunction and adaptive plasticity.

Evidence suggests space environments induce adverse brain effects like intracranial fluid shifts and gray matter changes, alongside adaptive neural responses such as sensory reweighting.

The recent study's findings may influence future space exploration, prompting further investigation into treatments for space-induced headaches. This is especially relevant as space agencies focus on establishing colonies on the Moon and Mars. Moreover, prospective space tourists may reconsider costly ISS stays.

However, the astronauts self-reported their symptoms, potentially leading to recall bias. Moreover, this study does not establish causation between space travel and headaches but rather highlights a correlation between the two.

Further research is crucial to uncover the root causes of space headaches and develop effective treatments, as headaches pose significant challenges for astronauts during space flights.

Van Oosterhout highlighted the necessity for more effective therapies to address space headaches, given their significant impact on astronauts during missions.

RELATED ARTICLE: Microgravity in Space Has Profound Effect on the Brains of First-Time Astronauts, MRI Scans Show

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