Sleep and body clock effects on heart and brain function during deep space exploration

Alterations in heart and brain function during spaceflight may be associated with external stressors and internal disruptions.

• Astronauts experience environmental stressors like microgravity and ionizing radiation during deep space exploration.
• Internal physiological disruptions include circadian rhythm dysregulation and sleep disturbances.
• Functional alterations in the heart and brain may result from these stressors and disruptions.
• Potential mechanisms for these changes include mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, metabolic disturbances, autonomic dysregulation, and inflammatory responses.
• Direct causal evidence in astronauts is limited, and many findings require further validation in actual spaceflight.

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