How studying astronauts could help tackle aging on Earth

A 2026 study tracked four astronauts during the nine-day Axiom-2 mission to examine how spaceflight affects biological age. The study found that astronauts' estimated biological age increased during the mission and began to fall after returning to Earth. This does not mean they physically aged, but it shows how quickly the body can respond to space conditions. The research highlights the potential of space as a laboratory for aging studies.

The study used chemical markers attached to DNA to estimate biological age. Astronauts' estimated biological age increased during the mission and began to fall after they returned to Earth. This does not mean they physically aged, but it shows how quickly the body can respond to space conditions. The research highlights the potential of space as a laboratory for aging studies.

The study found that muscle loss in space resembles sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle strength and mass. Scientists are still working out how closely muscle loss in space resembles sarcopenia because similar effects can arise through different biological processes. The crucial difference is timescale. The research shows that muscle loss in space can occur rapidly, similar to aging on Earth. The study used lab-grown human muscle constructs to compare muscle adaptations in space with those seen during aging on Earth. The research could help identify potential treatments for muscle loss and frailty in older people. The study's findings could lead to new insights into the biology of aging and the development of interventions to combat age-related decline on Earth.

AI-generated summary of the original article — see the source for the full story.