The National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) http://nsbri.tamu.edu has announced that a study is underway in Germany to research the effects of simulated spaceflight conditions on brain physiology. NSBRI has a team of American neurologists and scientists conducting a pilot demonstration experiment at “envihab” a newly built specialized facility of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) www.dlr.de/dlr/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-10002 located in Cologne Germany.
The researchers are studying how the human brain adapts to increased levels of fluid inside the skull in combination with elevated carbon dioxide levels. These conditions may be experienced by astronauts living and working on board the International Space Station (ISS) and could be the cause for vision changes that some astronauts experience during spaceflight. The study has implications for people on Earth who suffer from brain disorders including elevated pressure on the brain.
The research team is using state-of-the-art portable medical devices capable of monitoring brain physiology in real-time. These devices have the potential to transform brain health monitoring for patients on Earth.
One device the Volumetric Induction Phase-Shift Spectroscopy (VIPS) device came from Cerebrotech Medical Systems http://cerebrotechmedical.com of Pleasanton, California. The VIPS technology non-invasively and continuously monitors fluid shifts inside the brain that can arise from conditions such as progressive swelling or bleeding.
Also, Omnim Medical www.ornim.com based in Kfar Saba, Israel has supplied the c-Flow™ monitor to the team which is an FDA cleared non-invasive continuous, real-time, and easy-to-use blood flow brain monitor.
Vittamed Corporation www.vittamed.com with offices in Kaunas, Lithuania and Lexington Massachusetts, has provided a CE-marked non-invasive quantitative absolute intracranial pressure meter.
These innovative devices along with sophisticated MRI imaging and standard transcranial Doppler measurements are revealing neurological changes following prolonged exposure to simulated spaceflight conditions.
In addition, a newly developed battery of cognitive and neurological tests called “Cognition” are being tested to assess the effects on mental capabilities and behavior. The Cognition tests were first developed for astronaut use by NSBRI-funded researchers at the University of Pennsylvania.
They are now being tested on the ISS as well as in numerous research studies throughout the world. In the near future, this battery of tests will likely be used to clinically evaluate patients on Earth with various brain impairments or disorders.