Shocking! This is what happens to astronauts' bones in space
Long periods in space damage bone structure irreparably in some cases and can make parts of the human skeleton age prematurely by up to 10 years, according to new research. Adapted training programs in conjunction with medication could provide better protection for astronauts on future space missions.
The research findings also have implications for treating rheumatic conditions in clinical practice.
Will humans one day fly to Mars? Such a mission has been the subject of debate for several decades and does not depend simply on technical requirements. "If human beings are in space for three years at a time, we need to keep an eye on the health risks involved as well," says Dr. Anna-Maria Liphardt. "This already applies today for missions where astronauts are subject to zero-gravity conditions for usually no longer than six months."
After space travel: Bones age by up to ten years
Liphardt is a sports scientist and gained her doctoral degree at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the German Sport University Cologne and now researches the effects of rheumatic-inflammatory diseases on the human skeleton at Universitatsklinikum Erlangen. In conjunction with fellow researchers from Germany, Canada and the USA, she investigated how bone structure changes in space and recovers back on Earth in a long-term study. 14 men and three women were checked before their flights into space as well as six and twelve months after their return. The bone density and strength of the tibia and radius (shin bone and lower arm bone) were measured as well as the trabecular microstructure inside the bones. The bone turnover was also measured using biomarkers in their blood and urine.
The results are worrying: Even twelve months after the end
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