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Written By: Agencies | Published : January 13, 2015 9:04 PM IST
Washington, Jan 13: A tiny millimetre-long roundworm may hold the key to keeping astronauts healthy on long-duration space missions, NASA scientists say. Two Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) investigations on the International Space Station (ISS) aim to help researchers seek clues to physiological problems found in astronauts by studying the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans. The results of the investigation could lead to new treatments for bone and muscle loss in astronauts living in space. Findings may also be beneficial to people on Earth suffering from muscle and bone diseases. Read Bone health tips that you didn t know.
'Spaceflight-induced health changes, such as decreases in muscle and bone mass, are a major challenge facing our astronauts,' said Julie Robinson, NASA's Chief Scientist for the International Space Station Programme Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. We rely on gravity to develop stronger muscles and bones. When gravity is greatly reduced - as in spaceflight - we don't use those muscles to resist the force of gravity, and muscles and bones can slowly start to deteriorate. (Read: 8 things that affect your bone health adversely)
Source: PTI
Photo source: Getty images
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