N Engl J Med November 2017 PMID 29091569

Effects of Spaceflight on Astronaut Brain Structure as Indicated on MRI.

Donna R Roberts, Moritz H Albrecht, Heather R Collins, Davud Asemani, A Rano Chatterjee, M Vittoria Spampinato, Xun Zhu, Marc I Chimowitz, Michael U Antonucci

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Mentions

143

Peak: 8 in Mar 2022

across 6 sources since Nov 2017

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338,716

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AI synopsis

What people are saying

Various discussions highlight the real-world significance of the research, with posts mentioning MRI visual results like upward brain shifts and cerebrospinal fluid narrowing, and emphasizing the importance of understanding brain effects for future space missions. The tone is informative and curious, reflecting a student-level engagement with the topic’s scientific and practical implications.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge and support the findings about brain changes caused by spaceflight, reflecting broad agreement on the significance of the research.

InterestHigh interest

The discussions exhibit high curiosity, especially when referencing the effects on astronaut brains and the implications for long-term space missions.

EngagementModerate engagement

Participants are engaging by sharing examples, linking to videos and articles, and discussing the scientific methods and potential health effects.

ImpactModerate impact

The conversations suggest that these findings could influence space travel protocols and medical monitoring, indicating a moderate to high potential impact.

Abstract in brief

Spaceflight, especially long-duration missions on the International Space Station, is associated with changes in brain structure, such as narrowing of the central sulcus and upward displacement of brain tissues.
These structural changes were more common after long-duration flights (average of 16-48 days) compared to short-duration flights (about 13 days), with a significant number of astronauts showing evidence of brain shift and CSF space narrowing.
Some astronauts experienced optic disk edema, and these cases were linked to brain changes like cortical sulcus narrowing, suggesting potential implications for brain health during extended space travel.]

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All mentions

Effects of Spaceflight on Brain Structure in Astronauts

Spaceflight, especially long-duration missions, causes changes in brain structure, including sulcus narrowing and tissue displacement. These changes may impact brain health, highlighting the importance of understanding…

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QWERTY · Nov 7, 2017 74,901 views

Impact of Spaceflight on Brain Structure and Function

Spaceflight causes structural brain changes, such as sulcus narrowing and tissue displacement, especially after long missions. These alterations can affect astronaut health, with some experiencing optic disk edema. MRI…

Lubię swój mózg · Jun 26, 2025 1,158 views

Yoshinori Nanjo

@wyoshinanj · X

Effects of Spaceflight on Astronaut Brain Structure as Indicated on MRI | NEJM https://t.co/3b63YRyi7X

Nov 14, 2022 · 169 followers View post →

William Wallace

@bill14051 · X

RT @SciShow: We've been sending people to space for over 50 years, but we're just now starting to learn what that does to their brains. h…

Mar 23, 2022 · 2 shares · 342 followers View post →

Asta Muratti

@AstaMuratti · X

RT @SciShow: We've been sending people to space for over 50 years, but we're just now starting to learn what that does to their brains. h…

Mar 23, 2022 · 2 shares · 1,228 followers View post →

SciShow

@SciShow · X

We've been sending people to space for over 50 years, but we're just now starting to learn what that does to their brains. https://t.co/iztTkF2i86 https://t.co/VTWOYcjIIE

Mar 23, 2022 · 17 likes · 2 shares · 115,354 followers View post →

Corine

@FloatingIsland · X

How Space Changes Your Brain https://t.co/oix14tf7MD via @YouTube

Mar 23, 2022 · 1 like · 424 followers View post →

Homesdenegre

@Homesdenegre · X

How Space Changes Your Brain - https://t.co/11m9NZIWTO

Mar 23, 2022 · 71 followers View post →

Darnell Clayton

@Darnell · X

How Space Changes Your Brain

Mar 23, 2022 · 2,292 followers View post →

ekokepe

@ekokepe · X

How Space Changes Your Brain https://t.co/BoXoDqvSwE via @YouTube

Mar 22, 2022 · 361 followers View post →

Professor Karim Khan

@ProfKarimKhan · X

One for my friends @UBC_CogMobLab Spaceflight causes Astronaut Brain on MRI | @NEJM https://t.co/RNLGklJC91

Feb 26, 2022 · 3 likes · 12,062 followers View post →

Ananya Jain

@AnanyaJ09475161 · X

@anahitaheshmat MRI showed an upward shift of the brain and a narrowing of cerebrospinal fluid spaces in astronauts who underwent long-duration spaceflight. These changes were not as frequent for astronauts coming back from short-term flights. https://t.co/7lNdA5FEo8

Feb 11, 2022 View post →

thmonk

@thmonk_pf · X

RT @thmonk_pf: 宇宙空間の滞在は脳の中心溝狭小化、上方への移動、および頭頂部での髄液腔の狭小化をもたらすというNEJMの論文 open access #ASTRONAUT #Brain #papers

Oct 30, 2021 · 1 share · 1,646 followers View post →

thmonk

@thmonk_pf · X

宇宙空間の滞在は脳の中心溝狭小化、上方への移動、および頭頂部での髄液腔の狭小化をもたらすというNEJMの論文 open access #ASTRONAUT #Brain #papers

Oct 30, 2021 · 3 likes · 1 share · 1,646 followers View post →

David Warmflash, MD

@CosmicEvolution · X

RT @BrainsOnMars: Effects of Spaceflight on Astronaut Brain Structure as Indicated on MRI | NEJM https://t.co/tNCWdnyT2A

Jul 5, 2019 · 4 shares · 9,253 followers View post →

I.B.William

@IBWilliam2 · X

https://t.co/bTXomBWH2K

May 21, 2019 · 3 followers View post →

Roxana Flores A. MD,PhD

@flo_rox · X

RT @NEJM: Images show an upward shift of the brain and brain stem in an astronaut after spaceflight. Full video: https://t.co/5mKrT6GeDJ #n…

Mar 3, 2019 · 160 shares · 2,149 followers View post →

Donna Roberts, MD, MS

@BrainsOnMars · X

Effects of Spaceflight on Astronaut Brain Structure as Indicated on MRI | NEJM https://t.co/tNCWdnyT2A

Feb 6, 2019 · 29 likes · 4 shares · 573 followers View post →