Cosmic radiation could cause cognitive dysfunction in astronauts undertaking extended space travel

Scientists at University of California, Irvine (CA, USA) have reported that exposure to cosmic radiation can cause long-term cognitive dysfunction. This could be a particular problem for astronauts engaged in long space missions to destinations such as Mars in the future. Using rodents, the investigators observed that highly energetic charged particles can cause long-term brain damage and dementia. This could have serious implications if astronauts experience deficits in their decision-making in both normal and emergency situations during spaceflight. The study has been published in Scientific Reports and builds on findings reported last year concerning the short-term effects of cosmic radiation...