Neuroscientists from Leiden University in the Netherlands showed that spending more than 10 days in space can trigger severe headaches in people who had not previously dealt with such issues. The study appears in a leading neuroscience journal and adds important details to our understanding of how spaceflight reshapes brain function and comfort in microgravity settings. The research highlights that gravity changes affect many bodily systems, with the brain among the most sensitive to altered forces during space missions.
In the first week aboard a spacecraft, many individuals experience space motion sickness. This condition arises as the vestibular system adjusts to the absence of normal gravity, and headache remains the most common symptom of this adjustment period. Headaches may also arise later due to shifts in intracranial pressure that occur when the body adapts to life without gravity, a topic that has direct relevance for long-haul missions in Canada or the United States, such as research expeditions or future crewed flights.
The study involved 24 astronauts from major space agencies, including the European Space Agency, NASA, and JAXA. They took part in missions to the International Space Station lasting up to 26 weeks between November 2011 and June 2018. This international collaboration provides a broad view of how spaceflight impacts health across diverse crews and mission profiles.
Before the study began, nine astronauts reported no headaches in the preceding year, while three indicated headaches that interfered with daily activities. None had a history of recurrent headaches or diagnosed migraines. In total, 22 of the participants experienced one or more headaches during their 3,596 days in space. This detail underscores that headaches were a common, reproducible problem across missions and crew configurations, even among those without prior headache history.
At baseline, 38 percent of participants reported headaches. After returning from space, the prevalence rose sharply to 92 percent. Across all missions, a total of 378 headache cases were recorded. About 90 percent of these headaches were classified as tension-type, with roughly 10 percent identified as migraines. These figures help researchers distinguish the likely mechanisms behind headaches in microgravity, including muscle strain, stress, and changes in cerebral blood flow.
Remarkably, none of the astronauts experienced headaches for three months after returning to Earth, suggesting a temporary but significant spaceflight effect that gradually resolves with terrestrial readaptation. The findings have implications for planning future long-duration missions and for the health management of crews on commercial and government-led space programs.
Researchers emphasize that spaceflight brings about rapid physiological adjustments, including shifts in head and neck posture, fluid distribution, and intracranial pressure. These factors can contribute to headaches and other discomforts during and after missions. Understanding these patterns is important not only for astronauts but also for people who work in fields affected by extreme environments or who may experience high-stress, confined settings. In Canada and the United States, where space agencies and private operators are pursuing extended missions and colony concepts, such data informs medical protocols, countermeasures, and supportive technologies that keep crews healthy and productive during exploration.
University Institute of Neuroscience and related space medicine collaborations. The study underscores ongoing efforts to map how microgravity reshapes brain function and sensory processing, with practical implications for cabin design, work schedules, and personal health strategies on future missions.