The Impact of Long Space Missions on Astronaut Brains.

Long space missions and frequent voyages to space may cause ventricles in the brain to enlarge by up to 25%, according to a new study. The absence of a gravitational pull leads the brain to shift upward in the skull and causes the ventricles to expand. The implications of this ventricle expansion on performance and long-term health remain unclear. The rate of ventricle enlargement tapers off after six months in space, which may be good news for future longer duration missions, such as to Mars.