Rochester, N.Y. – As if traveling through space does not come with enough risks, a team at the University of Rochester Medical Center found yet another.
Researchers there produced a new study that suggests cosmic radiation could accelerate the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
“Galactic cosmic radiation poses a significant threat to future astronauts,” said Dr. M. Kerry O’Banion, a URMC professor and senior author of the study.
O’Banion exposed mice to a hefty dose of radiation then observed a quickening in the development of negative effects on their brains.
NASA is funding research like this as it plots out deep space missions to places like Mars.
O’Banion says knowing what threats might exist allows NASA to plan accordingly.
