Could Mars voyage cause Alzheimer's in astronauts

My brother told me that if a manned mission to Mars were looking for volunteers, it would be the first in line, even if it meant never to return. I would not want him to leave, but my desire to keep the Earth is linked even more intense after checking a new study on the impact of radiation on manned Mars missions potential.

A study published in the journal PLoS ONE focuses on the effects of galactic cosmic rays on mice. The researchers exposed mice to radiation particles like that found in space. The result was in line with cognitive impairment symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

Lead author of the study is Dr. Kerry O'Banion, professor of neurobiology and anatomy at the University of Rochester Medical Center. The researchers exposed 29 male mice and 20 female mice to controlled doses of radiation to space radiation laboratory at Brookhaven National Laboratory.The mice were followed during 3.5 months for females and males for 6 months. During this time, they underwent behavioral testing and memory, which showed a decline in cognitive abilities in mice.

"The doses used in this study are comparable to those of astronauts on a mission to see Mars, raising concerns about the increased possibility of debilitating dementia occurring long after the mission is over," states the study.

We can be a far cry away from sending people to Mars, but this study adds a wrinkle to the many potential challenges. It also lends some credibility to the science fiction stories about people going crazy in space. It might even explain why "Prometheus" was such a trainwreck. It was not the script, it was the space dementia.