Belgian researcher secures NASA collaboration on astronaut brain study

Belgian scientist Floris Wuyts from the University of Antwerp has secured a new partnership with NASA, the US space agency, according to Belgium’s Federal Science Policy Office (Belspo).

Professor Wuyts and his team study the effects of space travel on the human brain, examining American, European and Russian astronauts. Belgian researchers have been investigating how spaceflight affects the human body since 2007, looking into issues such as muscle loss, balance disorders, reduced sense of smell and changes in brain function. So far, around thirty astronauts have undergone MRI scans as part of the research.

Following NASA’s request to deepen the collaboration, the number of brain scans will now double, both before and after missions.

”We’ll have studied about a quarter of all astronauts who have spent six months on the ISS”

“Thanks to our cooperation with ESA, Roscosmos and now NASA, we’re learning a great deal”, said Professor Wuyts. “We’re increasing from thirty to sixty scans, meaning we’ll have studied about a quarter of all astronauts who have spent six months on the ISS.”

The research provides valuable insights into balance and neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to adapt to new environments.

“Despite geopolitical tensions, science - and particularly space research - continues to bring us together”, added Arnaud Vajda, chair of Belspo’s executive committee.

^{#FlandersNewsService | The NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, United States of America © BELGA PHOTO JASPER JACOBS}