Anti-aging effects of long-term space missions, estimated by heart rate variability

Abstract

Reports that aging slows down in space prompted this investigation of anti-aging effects in humans by analyzing astronauts' heart rate variability (HRV). Ambulatory 48-hour electrocardiograms from 7 astronauts (42.1 ± 6.8 years; 6 men) 20.6 ± 2.7 days (ISS01) and 138.6 ± 21.8 days (ISS02) after launch were divided into 24-hour spans of relative lower or higher magnetic disturbance, based on geomagnetic measures in Tromso, Norway. Magnetic disturbances were significantly higher on disturbed than on quiet days (ISS01: 72.01 ± 33.82 versus 33.96 ± 17.90 nT, P = 0.0307; ISS02: 71.06 ± 51.52 versus 32.53 ± 27.27 nT, P = 0.0308). SDNNIDX was increased on disturbed days (by 5.5% during ISS01, P = 0.0110), as were other HRV indices during ISS02 (SDANN, 12.5%, P = 0.0243; Triangular Index, 8.4%, P = 0.0469; and TF-component, 17.2%, P = 0.0054), suggesting the action of an anti-aging or longevity effect. The effect on TF was stronger during light (12:00-17:00) than during darkness (0:00-05:00) (P = 0.0268). The brain default mode network (DMN) was activated, gauged by increases in the LF-band (9.7%, P = 0.0730) and MF1-band (9.9%, P = 0.0281). Magnetic changes in the magnetosphere can affect and enhance HRV indices in space, involving an anti-aging or longevity effect, probably in association with the brain DMN, in a light-dependent manner and/or with help from the circadian clock.

Figure 1

HRV plasticity observed in SDNN and SDANN, as indices of anti-aging or longevity. Although the cardiovascular autonomic regulatory function, reflected by β, was statistically significantly suppressed (left), SDNN (middle) and SDANN (right), computed over 24 hours, show a quality of HRV plasticity after about 6 months in space. Symbols were assigned to individual astronauts.

Figure 2

An astronaut’s circadian profiles of frequency-domain measures of HRV during ISS02 are compared between the quiet (left) and magnetically disturbed (right) day. HRV endpoints were computed by MEM spectra over 5-min or 180-min intervals and compared between the 2 days by Student’s t test. Values shown in individual graphs indicate spectral power cumulated over 24 hours. The larger values during disturbed vs. quiet conditions indicate a statistically significant response to magnetic disturbance in space. Not only TF (P < 0.0001), ULF (P = 0.0002) and VLF (P < 0.0001), but also LF (P = 0.0284) power (in msec²) were found to be statistically significantly higher on disturbed than on quiet days.

Figure 3

An astronaut’s circadian profiles of HRV measures related to DMN activity during ISS02 are compared between the quiet (left) and magnetically disturbed (right) day. HRV endpoints were computed by MEM spectra over 5-min or 180-min intervals and compared between the 2 days by Student’s t test. Values shown in individual graphs indicate spectral power cumulated over 24 hours. Spectral power (in msec²) of all 4 HRV bands (LF, MF1, MF2, and HF) were found to be higher on the magnetically disturbed than on the quiet day (P < 0.0001).