Effects of Long-Duration Spaceflight on General and Spatial Cognition and Its Neural Basis

Part of paid clinical trials in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Sponsor
University of Pennsylvania
Study ID
NCT04856410
Status
Enrolling By Invitation

Conditions

  • Brain Structure
  • Cognitive Performance

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
N/A - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Spaceflight — OTHER
    Exposure to the spaceflight environment on the International Space Station for 2, 6, or 12 months.
  • Controls — OTHER
    No intervention

Study Details

This study investigates the effects of extended-duration spaceflight (12-month International Space Station missions) on general cognitive performance (measured with the Cognition test battery), spatial cognition, structural and functional brain changes in general, and hippocampal plasticity more specifically relative to the shorter 6-month and 2-month missions.

Key Dates

Start date
Aug 1, 2021
Status verified
Oct 2025
Primary completion
Jun 30, 2027
Completion
Jun 30, 2028

Study Design

Enrollment
14 participants (estimated)
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE

Arms

  • Experimental: 6-Month Arm
    Astronauts on 6-month International Space Station missions will be exposed to spaceflight for a duration of 6 months. Biometric and cognitive data will routinely be collected.
  • Experimental: 12-Month Arm
    Astronauts on 12-month International Space Station missions will be exposed to spaceflight for a duration of 12 months. Biometric and cognitive data will routinely be collected.
  • Experimental: No Intervention
    Subjects matched to 12-month astronauts that stay on Earth and are investigated at similar time points.

Primary Outcome Measure

Cognitive performance [ Time Frame: Change from pre-flight performance (average of tests performed 180, 120 and 60 days prior to launch) to in-flight performance (average of all tests: 1 month mission = 1 test, 2 months = 2 tests, 6 months = 6 tests, 12 months = 12 tests) ]

Locations (2)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvania19104-
Johnson Space Center (JSC)HoustonTexas77058-

Find similar trials in Philadelphia, PA

By research site
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine· Philadelphia, PAJohnson Space Center (JSC)· Houston, TX

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