JAMA Neurology | October 11, 2021

Zu Eulenburg P, Buchheim JI, Ashton NJ, Vassilieva G, Blennow K, Zetterberg H and Choukér A

JAMA Neurol. 2021

https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2021.3589

Abstract

Long-duration spaceflight has a widespread effect on human physiology. The past decade first revealed eyeball alterations, and then neuroimaging studies hinted at potentially detrimental effects on the brain.^1,2 Expansion of cerebrospinal fluid spaces occurs at the cost of the gray and white matter compartment. A neurobiological integrity assessment of the brain’s tissues after prolonged exposure to microgravity has never been conducted, to our knowledge. Therefore, we investigated the longitudinal course of blood-based biomarkers representing the brain parenchyma in long-duration spaceflight.