Going to space could speed up biological ageing, NASA study finds

Published on 05/09/2025 - 6:00 GMT+2

Going to abstraction could velocity up biologic ageing, according to caller investigation that tracked changes to quality stem cells during 4 missions successful space.

The study, which was supported by nan American abstraction agency NASA, recovered that humor cells that were sent to abstraction mislaid immoderate of their expertise to make patient caller cells and started showing familial damage, some signs of accelerated ageing.

“Space is nan eventual accent trial for nan quality body,” said Dr Catriona Jamieson, 1 of nan study’s authors and head of nan Sanford Stem Cell Institute astatine nan University of California San Diego successful nan United States.

Jamieson’s squad utilized artificial intelligence (AI)-powered imaging devices to way real-time changes to cultured quality cells that were sent connected 4 SpaceX missions to nan International Space Station (ISS).

They utilized haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), which are responsible for humor compartment production, making them captious for quality health, including immune strategy function.

When these cells stayed successful abstraction for 32 to 45 days, they started losing their expertise to make patient caller cells, nan study found. Signs of molecular erosion, for illustration DNA harm and shorter telomeres, besides go much apparent.

“These findings are critically important because they show that nan stressors of abstraction – for illustration microgravity and cosmic galactic radiation – tin accelerate nan molecular ageing of humor stem cells,” Jamieson said successful a statement.

Notably, erstwhile these cells returned to Earth and were placed successful a healthier environment, immoderate of nan harm began to reverse, according to nan study, which was published successful nan diary Cell Stem Cell.

The findings underscore nan request for caller measures to protect astronauts’ wellness during extended abstraction missions, nan researchers said.

They now scheme to study whether nan aforesaid molecular changes are recovered successful existent astronauts during abstraction missions, pinch nan extremity of identifying aesculapian aliases familial antidotes that could thief protect quality health.

“Understanding these changes not only informs really we protect astronauts during long-duration missions but besides helps america exemplary quality ageing and diseases for illustration crab present connected Earth,” Jamieson said.

“This is basal knowledge arsenic we participate a caller era of commercialized abstraction recreation and investigation successful debased Earth orbit”.