Recognition for Featured Journal Article
Arterial Structure and Function in the Years After Long Duration Spaceflight
The American Physiological Society highlights one paper in each of its journals each month showcasing “some of the best recently published articles in physiological research.” For the month of July, it selected the Journal of Applied Physiology paper “Arterial Structure and Function in the Years After Long Duration Spaceflight” written by a team of KBR HHPC and NASA scientists comprised of:
Stuart Lee (KBR - HRP Human Health and Countermeasures (HHC) Associate Element Scientist); Christine Ribeiro (KBR - HRP HHC Portfolio Integrator); David Martin (KBR – Senior Ultrasound Scientist); Steven S. Laurie (KBR – Cardiovascular and Vision Laboratory Technical Lead and Acting Manager); Sara R. Zwart (NASA); X. Chen (KBR - Biostatistician); Millenia Young (NASA); Brian Crucian (NASA); Scott M. Smith (NASA); Brandon R. Macias (KBR – HRP HHC Deputy Element Scientist (on rotation)).
Recognition Certificate received by lead author Dr. Stuart Lee
Research Summary:
There has been a concern for long-term cardiovascular health of the astronauts, particularly after long-duration missions. Previous investigations in which the astronauts were studied in the hours after landing suggested that crewmembers were experiencing accelerated “vascular aging” (thickening and stiffening of the arteries) during 6-months of spaceflight. Given the dynamic and stressful nature of the readaptation process upon return to Earth, this study sought to understand whether those previous observations were transient or whether they translated to clinical or subclinical manifestations of cardiovascular disease. The results of this study suggest that astronauts are resilient to the effects of spaceflight, that astronauts experience normal healthy aging in the 5 years after spaceflight that appears not to be different from those who did not fly in space.
