Improving health

The space environment offers unique possibilities to study health problems related to various diseases, ageing and immobility. Research will focus in the first instance on osteoporosis, cardiovascular problems, muscle atrophy and nutrition, and will try to understand the effects of physiological adaptation and the environment on health and safety, to develop clinical counter measures and advanced instrumentation for monitoring and diagnostics.

Studies on 0steoporosis

Astronauts experience during their flight several effects on their bodies that can be described as artificial accelerated aging. Bones lose calcium and strength, muscles lose mass, etc. The effects on the bones mimic the disease of osteoporosis, which affects in particular a large number of older women. Space offers a testbed to investigate the underlying processes, evaluate drugs and countermeasures, and develop more powerful diagnostic equipment. Several European teams are working on this issue together with specialists of hospitals and medical companies.

Cardiovascular problems and rehabilitation

The working of the cardiovascular system is strongly influenced by the Earth's gravity. Therefore, in space tests can be done to understand the functioning of the heart and the blood-pressure regulation system of the body under very different circumstances. Again, new diagnostic tools will be developed, but also new treatment methods after heart failure can be envisaged. In addition, a prolonged stay in hospital can lead to all kinds of adaptation problems that require advanced rehabilitation techniques. This is not only true for the cardiovascular system, but also for muscles. Exercise machines developed for astronauts in space can provide a very valuable tool for that.