Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield’s arteries stiffened while he was in space and studying him may reveal information on what happens to people’s arteries as they age here on earth. Researchers at the University of Waterloo in Ontario are looking for a marker in the blood that might help them understanding a process that can be so damaging to human health.
As people age, arteries stiffen increasing blood pressure, decreasing blood flow to the brain and possibly impairing cognitive ability leading to dementia.
Astronaut’s arteries stiffen as they spend time in space, possibly because they are sedentary for 23 hours out of the day. Studies will determine if Hadfield’s blood vessels are returning to normal after being back on earth and the Canadian Space Agency is facilitating further study of other astronauts.
Blood may reveal clues
“We’re looking for different molecules in the bloodstream that could be involved (in the stiffening of the arteries),” says Professor Richard Hughson, a physiologist at the university’s Faculty of Applied Health Sciences. “…It could be an increase in the concentration of some hormones or it could be the increase in the concentration of markers that might cause some changes in the artery structure.”
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Blood samples taken from Hadfield in space have not yet returned from orbit so Hughson must wait to analyse them.
Certain things are already known about how people’s arteries stiffen as they age, but because it happens so quickly in space, Hughson hopes studying the phenomenon will provide information about how the transition occurs and eventually help researchers devise ways to mitigate it.
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