Prior Areas of NIA-Supported Space-Related Health Research:
NEUROLAB
Used the Spacelab module to conduct integrated neuroscience and behavioral research
Project included national and international partners
Several NIH institutes
Other federal agencies
International agencies Launch Date: October 29, 1998
Crew: 7
Duration: 9 days Prior Areas of NIA-Supported Space-Related Health Research
Prior Areas of NIA-Supported Space-Related Health Research:
NEUROLAB cont.
Medical research included battery of tests on how the absence of gravity affects:
Balance and perception
Immune system response
Bone and muscle density
Metabolism and blood flow
Sleep Prior Areas of NIA-Supported Space-Related Health Research
Prior Areas of NIA-Supported Space-Related Health Research:
Trans-NIH Research Initiative (PA-AG00-088): “Earth-Based Research Related to Space Environment”
NIA-supported research:
Study to characterize the normal degradation in balance control using the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging cohort
Study of enzyme serotonin-N-acetyltransferase, regulation of melatonin, and basic sleep pattern
Study of interstitial fluid flow and bone remodeling
Prior Areas of NIA-Supported Space-Related Health Research
An NIA-NASA Collaboration:
An NIA-NASA Collaboration Exercise: A Guide from the National Institute on Aging
NASA provided funds to print additional copies of the guide and both agencies have posted the guide on their home pages
Currently available on NIA and NASA Web sites
http://weboflife.arc.nasa.gov
http://www.nih.gov/nia/health/pubs/nasa-exercise
E xe r c i s e :
A G u i d e f rom
t h e N a t i o n a l
I n s t i t u t e
o n A g i n g
Promising Areas for NIA Space-Related Health Research Collaborations:
Promising Areas for NIA Space-Related Health Research Collaborations
Space vs. Ground-Based Research in Aging
Bone and Muscle Loss
Age- and space-related bone loss seem to have some similar causes: reduced loads due to reduced physical activity or lack of gravitational forces, hormonal changes, and reduced calcium absorption by the intestines.
Sleep and Circadian Rhythms
Aging often results in disrupted sleep patterns. On the orbiting space station, a new sunrise occurs with each 90-minute orbit.
NIA Resources to Facilitate Potential Space-Related Health Research:
NIA Resources to Facilitate Potential Space-Related Health Research NIA cohorts such as the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging
NIA murine models of aging