Musculoskeletal Health in Long-Duration Spaceflight : Can We Get to Mars?

Description

In this enlightening lecture, Dr. Mary L. Bouxsein explores the significant impacts of microgravity on the musculoskeletal system, particularly focusing on astronauts during spaceflight. She begins by acknowledging the invitation from Professor Richie Gill and expresses her hope for an engaging session despite the remote setting. Dr. Bouxsein outlines her dual research scope, which encompasses both the widespread public health issue of osteoporosis affecting a considerable percentage of men and women and the specific challenges posed by space travel on bone health. She presents alarming statistics indicating that astronauts experience a bone mass decline of approximately 1% to 1.5% per month in microgravity, a rate significantly higher compared to postmenopausal women. She discusses the implications for long-duration missions to Mars and the necessity for effective countermeasures against bone loss. Dr. Bouxsein also reviews the methods used in her studies, including advanced imaging techniques and animal models to simulate weightlessness and analyze bone density and quality. Interestingly, she introduces the concept of using treatments such as sclerostin antibodies to stimulate bone formation in astronauts, supporting her findings with recent clinical data. Throughout her presentation, Dr. Bouxsein emphasizes the importance of a multifaceted approach combining resistance exercise, nutritional strategies, and pharmacological interventions to mitigate the detrimental effects of microgravity on the skeletal system. Following her lecture, she engages in a lively Q&A session with Professor Gill, addressing queries that highlight the ongoing research in musculoskeletal health in both space and clinical settings.

DOI: 10.1302/3114-221017

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