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Decoded - why travelling through space can make you older

Mitochondrial damage accelerates ageing on exposure to space radiation and microgravity

25-Nov-2020

Key points from article :

Study finds why travelling through space accelerates ageing & causes long-lasting health problems.

Data from NASA Twin Study, 59 astronauts & cell samples that were previously flown in space were studied.

The problems are due to damage to ‘mitochondria’ – structures within human cells that produce energy.

Dietary supplement like Coenzyme Q10 (an antioxidant which occurs naturally in the body) can offset mitochondrial damage.

“The study identifies mitochondrial dysfunction, a hallmark of ageing and metabolic diseases, as an adverse effect of space travel.” - Gary Hardiman.

Research by Queens University Belfast published in Journal Cell.

Mentioned in this article:

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Cell

Scientific journal publishing research from many disciplines within the life sciences

Gary Hardiman

Professor & Chair in Food Systems Biology, Institute for Global Food Security, Queens University Belfast

Queen's University Belfast (QUB)

Public Research university.

Topics mentioned on this page:
Space Colonization, Mitochondria