Several journals from the Nature group published these investigations that include data from the first crew composed only of non-professional astronauts, whose results represent the largest compendium of information on aerospace medicine and space biology.
According to Christopher Mason, from the New York School of Medicine, signatory of several articles, traveling to space induces molecular, cellular and physiological changes and poses innumerable biomedical challenges to the human body, which will become increasingly relevant as more people venture out.
In his opinion, most changes in telomeres (ends of chromosomes), blood chemistry, proteins or gene expression return to normal within a few months after return.
Although 95 percent of the markers return to their reference value in the months after the end of the mission, some proteins, genes and cytokines appear to be activated only during recovery and persist for at least three months, Mason said.
This suggests that readaptation to Earth activates a series of reparative mechanisms that help recover, at least in part, the physiological stress imposed by exposure to the space environment, the study suggests.
To reach these conclusions, the researchers used data from stays of up to one year on the International Space Station (ISS), but the novelty is the analysis of those collected on Inspiration 4, the first private mission with a crew of only civilian astronauts.
The physiological changes that most initially impact the body occur during launch and re-entry to Earth, due to the variation in gravity, said Mexican Emmanuel Urquieta, medical director of the American Translational Research Institute for Space Health.
Other studies focused on the first phases of adaptation to flight at an anatomical, cellular, physiological and cognitive level, verifying that first neurovestibular changes occur, which have to do with orientation, and then those related to blood and fluids that are redistributed. towards the thorax, neck and head.
These analyzes warn that the structure and function of the kidneys is altered by radiation, both solar and galactic, to a point that could put a mission to Mars at risk.
Experts participating in the research concluded that current aerospace medicine frameworks lag behind advances in precision medicine on Earth, underscoring the need to develop space medicine databases, tools and protocols for the future. upcoming lunar, martian and exploration missions.
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