Study linking microgravity and space radiation to accelerated aging could yield therapies on Earth

AI Summary

Researchers at UCF have identified molecular changes in the liver caused by space radiation and microgravity that resemble accelerated aging. This study on space travel risks enhances understanding of age-related diseases and could inform anti-aging therapies on Earth.

What happens to the human body in space may help scientists create new anti-aging therapies. UCF's Michal Masternak and his team have identified molecular changes in the liver that happen when space travelers experience radiation and microgravity. These changes—that resemble accelerated aging—provide new insight into how prolonged space missions may increase health risks for astronauts and reveal potential targets for therapies that could combat age-related diseases on Earth. The work is published in the journal GeroScience.