Long space flights impact brain function: study.

A new study funded by NASA has found that areas of the brain containing fluid expand when astronauts are on space missions for six months or longer. The brain areas are called cerebral ventricles. They contain cerebrospinal fluid, a clear and watery liquid that flows in and around the brain and spinal cord. The study involved 23 male and seven female astronauts from the U.S., Canadian and European space agencies. The average age of the astronauts was 47. Longer space missions might also increase cancer risk because of greater exposure to solar radiation.