Health

Study Finds Space Travel Alters Astronauts’ Brain Structure

On Monday, Jan. 12, findings published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) revealed that “the brain shifts upward and backward within the skull following spaceflight, with sensory and motor regions exhibiting the largest shifts.”

The study explained that, “Understanding how spaceflight impacts the human brain is crucial as space exploration and tourism expand.”

Researchers “evaluated brain regional shift magnitudes and deformations and their behavioral correlates,” analyzing MRI data from 26 astronauts and 24 participants from “a long-duration head-down tilt bed rest study.”

An abstract read, “We aligned skull position across timepoints (before and after spaceflight or bed rest) as a reference and then used rigid body registration to quantify brain position change.”

“The brain shifted backward, upward and rotated back in the pitch direction from before to after spaceflight and bed rest in a fashion that correlated with exposure duration,” it added.

The study found that “widespread recovery occurred in all three dimensions (particularly in the up–down direction) over [6 months] following spaceflight.” However, it also noted, “Although most of the brain deformation recovered over [6 months] post-flight, some persisted.”

Studies like this could prove to be crucial given the direction space travel is heading in. In 2022, PEOPLE reported that a NASA official had said it was only a matter of time before people will be living — and working — on the surface of the moon.

Rachael Seidler — one of the study’s co-authors and a professor in the department of applied physiology and kinesiology at the University of Florida — said, “We need to understand these changes and their impacts to keep astronauts safe and healthy and protect their longevity,” per NBC News.

The outlet noted that a few individuals studied had spent extended, yearlong stints aboard the International Space Station, while the standard duration for a mission is around six months.

“The people who went for a year showed the largest changes,” Seidler said, per NBC News. “There were still some changes evident in people who went for two weeks, but duration seems to be the driving factor.”

She added to the outlet that the upward movement in the brain among astronauts who had stayed in space for six months or longer had been “pretty extensive,” especially in structures at the top of the organ.

“It’s on the order of a couple of millimeters,” Seidler said, adding, “Which doesn’t sound like a big number, but when you’re talking about brain movement, it really is. That kind of change is visible by eye,” according to the outlet.

She explained that the changes in the brain would sometimes cause “sensory conflicts” while the astronauts were in space. These symptoms would often manifest as temporary disorientation or motion sickness in space, while the shifts would contribute to things like balance issues when back on Earth, NBC News noted.

Seidler told the outlet that it “was surprising” to her that the study didn’t find that astronauts suffered serious symptoms, such as cognitive impairment or headaches, during or after spaceflight.

While speaking further about the study, Seidler added to PEOPLE, “We already knew that the brain shifts upward within the skull from pre-to post-flight. BUT, we were looking at the brain as a whole on average (imagine like a basketball). Here, we are looking at individual brain structures (imagine like a head of broccoli with individual florets that can move separately).”

“When we do this, we see that the individual structures move more than we thought they did (a couple of [millimeters], which doesn’t sound like much, but it is a lot for the brain and it’s visible by eye). And, the left and right side move towards each other at the top of the brain, and away from each other at the bottom of the brain. This deforms the brain tissue,” she added. “Surprisingly, there are not major symptoms, but these are highly trained and resilient individuals.”

The latest study is one of many published regarding space and health. However, despite scientists already knowing that spaceflight can affect the brain, Seidler’s study is among the first to reveal how the changes affect how astronauts function in space and back on Earth, NBC News reported, citing Dr. Mark Rosenberg.

Rosenberg — the Director of the Aerospace and Performance Neurology program and Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Medical University of South Carolina — said of the study, which he was not involved with, “We knew the brain shifts upward, but does it actually have any kind of operational impact?” per NBC News.

“This study is able to make some of those associations,” he added to the outlet.

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Rosenberg told the publication that there are still certain questions that need to be answered as more people plan to head to space.

“If you’ve been on Mars with one-third Earth’s gravity, or on the moon with one-sixth Earth’s gravity, will it take three or six times as long to get back to normal?” he said, per NBC News.

“Whether we care to admit it or not, we are eventually going to become a space-faring species,” Rosenberg told the outlet. “It’s only a matter of time. And these are just some of the unanswered questions that we need to sort out.”

PEOPLE

Health

This Is the Age When You’re Most Physically Fit

Researchers have pinpointed the age when people reach their peak physical fitness.

In an exhaustive 47-year study, researchers followed 427 people from ages 16 to 63, regularly measuring their height and weight, and testing their fitness by evaluating endurance on a stationary bicycle and the weight they could bench press.

They found that age 35 is the time of peak physical performance for both men and women, according to the study published in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle. “There is no sex difference in decline with age,” researchers found. They also said that while physical decline is inevitable, active people experience a slower decline.

And the earlier you start moving, the better: “Individuals who were physically active in their leisure time at age 16 maintained higher aerobic capacity, muscular endurance and muscle power throughout the observation period,” the study says.

“This emphasizes the importance of early intervention to establish positive exercise habits in adolescence and early adulthood, as these patterns appear to have long-term benefits for physical function.”

But it doesn’t mean that once you’re 36, it’s all over: “It is never too late to start moving. Our study shows that physical activity can slow the decline in performance, even if it cannot completely stop it,” Maria Westerståhl, lecturer at the Department of Laboratory Medicine and lead author of the study, said in a press release from Karolinska Institutet.

“Now we will look for the mechanisms behind why everyone reaches their peak performance at age 35 and why physical activity can slow performance loss but not completely halt it,” she said, adding that the next step will be to evaluate the subjects when they are 68.

People magazine

Health

Dubai Hernia Summit Concludes Its Second Edition with the First-Ever Inclusion of Diastasis Recti Congress

International experts highlight the shift from cosmetic perception to clinical reality in abdominal wall reconstruction

Dubai, February 6, 2026

The Dubai Hernia Summit (DHS) successfully concluded its second edition in Dubai, marking a significant milestone with the first-ever inclusion of a dedicated International Congress for Diastasis Recti as part of this year’s scientific programme. The summit was held in collaboration with American Hospital Dubai and brought together a distinguished group of international surgeons and medical experts specialising in abdominal wall surgery.

The second edition of the Dubai Hernia Summit took place from January 30 to February 1, 2026, at The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre, further strengthening the event’s position as a regional and international platform for advanced hernia surgery and abdominal wall reconstruction.

A key highlight of this year’s summit was the introduction of Diastasis Recti as a dedicated scientific track for the first time, addressing a condition that is often misunderstood as purely cosmetic. Diastasis recti—the structural separation of the rectus abdominis muscles—is a clinically significant condition that can affect core stability, physical function, posture, and long-term quality of life.

Expanded Scientific Programme

The scientific agenda featured advanced educational tracks, including the Diastasis Recti Masterclass, ETEP Universe, and Advanced Sessions, focusing on evidence-based practice, modern surgical techniques, and functional abdominal wall reconstruction.

The programme welcomed internationally recognised speakers, including Marco Correa, Rodrigo Galhego, Paulo Michels, Luciano Tracia, and Mario Cherubino, who shared global expertise and presented advanced approaches to complex abdominal wall and diastasis recti reconstruction.

Scientific Leadership and Acknowledgements

Dr Hatem Moussa, Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the Dubai Hernia Summit and Head of the Department of Surgery at American Hospital Dubai, said the successful conclusion of the second edition reflects the summit’s growing scientific impact and international relevance.

“The Dubai Hernia Summit continues to evolve, and the inclusion of Diastasis Recti for the first time this year represents an important step forward in addressing conditions that require proper clinical recognition and specialised surgical management,” Dr Moussa said.

He added:

“I would like to sincerely thank all the physicians and international experts who contributed to the scientific success of this edition. I also extend my appreciation to American Hospital Dubai and Mr Sherif Beshara for their continued support, commitment to advancing healthcare standards, and their key role in the successful delivery of this year’s summit.”

Advancing Abdominal Wall Surgery

The summit placed strong emphasis on robotic-assisted and advanced minimally invasive surgery, positioning the second edition of DHS as a leading platform for showcasing innovation in hernia repair and abdominal wall reconstruction. Specialised workshops provided participants with practical exposure to the latest surgical technologies and techniques.

The event was supported by American Hospital Dubai, alongside leading global medical technology companies including Medtronic, Intuitive, BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), Johnson & Johnson, and Cambridge Medical Robotics (CMR).

Reinforcing Dubai’s Global Role

The successful conclusion of the second edition of the Dubai Hernia Summit, and the first-time inclusion of the Diastasis Recti Congress, further reinforces Dubai’s position as a global destination for specialised medical conferences, advanced surgical education, and innovation-driven healthcare collaboration.

For more information :
Website: www.dubaihernia.com
Email: info@dubaihernia.com

About Dubai Hernia Summit (DHS)

The Dubai Hernia Summit is a leading medical platform dedicated to clinical excellence in hernia surgery and abdominal wall reconstruction. By uniting a global faculty of surgical pioneers and technology leaders, DHS facilitates high-level scientific exchange and the responsible adoption of advanced surgical technologies to improve patient outcomes internationally.

For media contact

Mourad Alsayed
Mobile: +071588144155
Murad.mustafa@awarenessupr.com

Health

A Major Advance in Complex Spinal Surgery: Saudi German Hospital Dubai Ends 30 Years of Suffering for Scoliosis Patient

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The Spinal Center at Saudi German Hospital Dubai has achieved a significant medical milestone in complex spinal care, successfully performing a highly advanced spinal deformity correction on a patient who had lived with severe, neglected scoliosis for more than three decades.

The condition, which developed during childhood, had progressively evolved into a rigid structural deformity of the spine, resulting in chronic pain, restricted mobility, and long-term physical limitations that profoundly affected the patient’s quality of life.

A Surgical Challenge Requiring Advanced Expertise

This case extended well beyond conventional corrective procedures. Decades of progression had caused the spinal curvature to become structurally rigid, placing the condition among the most technically demanding scenarios in spinal surgery. Such cases require exceptional surgical expertise, meticulous planning, and strict adherence to internationally recognized standards of care.

Led by Professor Hazem Farid, Consultant Spine Surgeon, the multidisciplinary team implemented an advanced surgical protocol aimed at releasing the rigid deformity and restoring the body’s natural axial alignment while minimizing neurological risk.

Precision Techniques and Advanced Safety Measures

The three-and-a-half-hour procedure employed spinal osteotomy, a specialized technique used to reshape and realign solidified vertebrae with high precision. To safeguard neurological function, the surgical team utilized state-of-the-art intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM), providing continuous, real-time assessment of nerve signals throughout the procedure and ensuring the highest standards of surgical safety.

A Transformative Outcome

The results were evident within hours of surgery. The patient was able to stand with a corrected posture and walk independently, marking the end of a prolonged period of pain and physical restriction. Beyond the physical correction, the successful outcome also delivered a profound psychological benefit, restoring confidence, mobility, and independence.

Advancing Specialized Spine Care in the Region

This achievement highlights the advanced capabilities of Saudi German Hospital Dubai in managing complex spinal conditions and reinforces its role as a regional reference center for high-complexity specialty surgeries. By combining specialized expertise with cutting-edge surgical technology, the hospital continues to contribute to Dubai’s growing reputation as a leading destination for advanced and sophisticated healthcare.