anyone who was in the "aged" space anymore

Two scientists of the National Administration of Aeronautics and Space (NASA, by its acronym) are the protagonists of a story that borders on fiction. One of them "ages" faster after an orbit of nearly a year.

The explanation comes from the magazine Science, where a pioneering document called "Study of twins", which badyzes the health effects of extended space flights. Scott Kelly, NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station and his brother Mark, who stayed on Earth, were the subjects to compare.

At first we thought Scott would have become younger (as Benjamin Button), the result was exactly the in front. Susan Bailey, a professor at Colorado State University, said that, from her perspective, "the most startling discovery" is the modification of the telomeres of Scott in his white blood cells during his stay in space. In the space, they lay down – which could mean that they were "rejuvenated" – but when they came back to Earth, this was reversed. Now he has more short telomeres than before the 340-day mission.

AFP

According to Bailey, this badumes "A risk of accelerated aging"all in "Increases the risk of suffering from age-related diseases, such as cardiovascular problems and certain types of cancer"Researchers are now trying to determine the specific cause of space flight causing these changes.

"We are all worried about getting old and we want to avoid the diseases that cause, if we know what changes the telomeres, we may be able to slow down," said the researcher, published by the Spanish portal ABC.

"In the last six months of the mission, there have been six times more changes in gene expression than in the first half," he added. Christopher Mason, professor of physiology and biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine. While many of them were reversed after Scott's return to Earth, 7% persisted after six months on Earth, including cognitive deficits, DNA damage, and some changes in T-cell activation. .

AFP

The study also suggests a change in the proportion of two broad categories of bacteria, the flight affecting microbiome of Scott, this complex community of micro-organisms including viruses, fungi and bacteria that live in the digestive tract. In addition, alterations of the microbiome have also recently been badociated with bone, muscle and brain disorders. There are even studies that link it to Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, autism, and schizophrenia.

The visual acuity Scott has also been reached. The shape of the eyeball changed throughout the flight, including a thicker retinal nerve and folds in the choroidal layer surrounding the eye. Scientists also observed reductions in cognitive abilities and higher levels of stress among the astronaut during the flight.

Scott returned to Earth in 2016 after 340 days in orbit. | AP

Bailey's project was one of 10 researches supported by 84 researchers from 12 universities, all coordinated by NASA's human research program. The results of the study have implications for astronauts and people who wish to explore space in the coming years, through private companies, as humankind s & rsquo; adventure deeper and deeper into the space.