Issue #2(12) 2017 Astronautics

Spaceflight studies support geriatric health on Earth

Nandu Goswami Medical University of Graz, Austria
Helmut Hinghofer-Szalkay Medical University of Graz, Austria
Amal Ezzedine Thuraya Telecommunications

Understanding the links between spaceflight physiology and the aging process can lead to improvements in human health not only for astronauts living in microgravity but also for older people living on Earth. This article provides a general overview of important physiological consequences of spaceflight, the aging process in humans on Earth, and important connections between these physiological states.

Ever since our ancestors started walking upright, the human body has adapted to the effects of gravity. For example, during standing - despite the human heart being located below the brain - it is able to pump enough blood to the brain against the force of gravity to maintain proper brain function. The pooling of blood in the legs - which occurs due to gravitational forces - is counteracted by the muscle pump in the lower limbs by one-way leg venous valves as well as by the action of breathing.

Additionally, the weight-bearing bones and antigravity muscles have adapted during evolution to ensure adequate support during standing. Thus humans can stand up without any real problems.

The real importance of gravity on physiological systems is, however, seen when gravity is reduced or taken away, as in the microgravity environment of spaceflight. Here, the impact of microgravity is seen on many physiological systems including cardiovascular function, cerebral autoregulation, musculoskeletal and sensorimotor systems.

Read more about how spaceflight studies can help geriatric health back on Earth in the full version of the article, available now to our subscribers.

If you already have a login and password to access www.room.eu.com - Please log in to be able to read all the articles of the site.

Popular articles

See also

Astronautics

Is there a space race or are India and China just coming of age?

Opinion

‘Witches brew’ of a subordinate space corps

Astronautics

Advancing maritime intelligence with real-time satellite AIS

Popular articles

Specials

Maximising returns to Earth - the infinite potential of space

SLS carrying an Orion spacecraft lifts off the pad at Launch Complex 39B, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 16 November 2022. Lounge

Lego’s tribute to NASA’s SLS and Artemis