[Potential biological mechanisms underlying spaceflight-induced depression symptoms in astronauts].

Dec 12, 2025Zhong nan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Central South University. Medical sciences

Possible biological causes of depression symptoms in astronauts during spaceflight

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Abstract

Long-term spaceflight may increase the risk of depressive symptoms due to multiple biological changes.

Changes in brain structure and function could be linked to depressive symptoms in astronauts.
Dysregulation of neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factors is associated with increased risk of depression.
Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation may contribute to the development of depressive symptoms.
Disruptions in the gut microbiota are possibly related to mental health challenges during spaceflight.
Impairments in neuroplasticity and alterations in hormonal responses may play a role in astronaut depression.

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Long-term spaceflight exposes astronauts to multiple extreme environmental factors, such as cosmic radiation, microgravity, social isolation, and circadian rhythm disruption, that markedly increase the risk of depressive symptoms, posing a direct threat to mental health and mission safety. However, the underlying biological mechanisms remain complex and incompletely understood. The potential mechanisms of spaceflight-induced depressive symptoms involve multiple domains, including alterations in brain structure and function, dysregulation of neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factors, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, neuroendocrine system imbalance, and gut microbiota disturbances. Collectively, these changes may constitute the biological foundation of depressive in astronauts during spaceflight. Space-related stressors may increase the risk of depressive symptoms through several pathways: impairing hippocampal neuroplasticity, suppressing dopaminergic and serotonergic system function, reducing neurotrophic factor expression, triggering oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, activating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and disrupting gut microbiota homeostasis. Future research should integrate advanced technologies such as brain-computer interfaces to develop individualized monitoring and intervention strategies, enabling real-time detection and effective prevention of depressive symptoms to safeguard astronauts' psychological well-being and mission safety.

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[Potential biological mechanisms underlying spaceflight-induced depression symptoms in astronauts].

Abstract

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