Prior Areas of NIA-SupportedSpace-Related Health Research

NIA and NASA have collaborated on numerous research activities since 1989.• NIH representative and former chair, NASA Life and Microgravity Sciences and

Applications Advisory Committee

• Co-chair of NASA/NIH Collaborations Committee with Director, National Institute of Deafness and Other Communications Disorders

• Joint sponsor of workshops focusing on the aging process and changes induced by space

• NEUROLAB - Trans-NIH Research Initiative - Exercise Guide

Presenter: Dr. Richard Hodes, DirectorAgency/Organization: National Institute on Aging - NIH

National Institute on Aging

NEUROLABNEUROLAB

• Used the Spacelab module Used the Spacelab module to conduct integrated to conduct integrated neuroscience and neuroscience and behavioral researchbehavioral research

• Project included national Project included national and international partners and international partners

– Several NIH institutesSeveral NIH institutes

– Other federal agencies Other federal agencies

– International agenciesInternational agencies

Launch Date: October 29, 1998Crew: 7 Duration: 9 days

National Institute on Aging

Prior Areas of NIA-SupportedSpace-Related Health Research

NEUROLAB cont.

• Medical research included battery of tests on how the absence of gravity affects:

– Balance and perception

– Immune system response

– Bone and muscle density

– Metabolism and blood flow

– Sleep

National Institute on Aging

Prior Areas of NIA-SupportedSpace-Related Health Research

Trans-NIH Research Initiative (PA-AG00-088): “Earth-Based Research Related to Space Environment”

NIA-supported research:

• Study to characterize the normal degradation in balance control using the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging cohort

• Study of enzyme serotonin-N-acetyltransferase, regulation of melatonin, and basic sleep pattern

• Study of interstitial fluid flow and bone remodeling

National Institute on Aging

Prior Areas of NIA-SupportedSpace-Related Health Research

An NIA-NASA Collaboration

Exercise: A Guide from the National Institute on Aging

• NASA provided funds to print additional copies of the guide and both agencies have posted the guide on their home pages

• Currently available on NIA and NASA Web sites

http://weboflife.arc.nasa.gov

http://www.nih.gov/nia/health/pubs/nasa-exercise

E xe r c i s e :E xe r c i s e :A G u i d e f romt h e N a t i o n a l

I n s t i t u t eo n A g i n g

National Institute on Aging

Promising Areas for NIA Space-Related Health Research Collaborations

Space vs. Ground-Based Research in Aging

• Bone and Muscle Loss Age- and space-related bone loss seem to have some similar

causes: reduced loads due to reduced physical activity or lack of gravitational forces, hormonal changes, and reduced calcium absorption by the intestines.

• Sleep and Circadian Rhythms Aging often results in disrupted sleep patterns. On the orbiting

space station, a new sunrise occurs with each 90-minute orbit.

National Institute on Aging

NIA Resources to Facilitate Potential Space-Related Health Research

• NIA cohorts such as the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging

• NIA murine models of aging

National Institute on Aging