Risk of Host-Microorganism Interactions
Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) is a syndrome unique to humans that fly in space, and there is no terrestrial disease equivalent. Data collected pre-, in-, and post-flight indicate that 69% of crewmembers experience one or more of the hallmark signs of SANS: optic disc edema, chorioretinal folds, globe flattening, or hyperopic shifts in refractive error. Major SANS knowledge gaps include: underlying mechanism(s), including role of intracranial pressure (ICP) and factors contributing to individual variability of presentation; threshold where physiological adaptations transition to pathology; proven countermeasures; and long-term health consequences. The effect of spaceflight on brain structure is being investigated, but a connection between SANS and brain structure or function (cognition) has not been established.
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