Nourishing the Brain on Deep Space Missions: Nutritional Psychiatry in Promoting Resilience

Authors

Nihar N Pathare
Flavia Fayet-Moore
Jennifer A Fogarty
Felice N Jacka
Philip Strandwitz
Gary E Strangman
Dorit B Donoviel

Publication Date

1-1-2023

Journal

Frontiers in Neural Circuits

DOI

10.3389/fncir.2023.1170395

PMID

37663891

PMCID

PMC10469890

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

8-17-2023

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Published Open-Access

yes

Keywords

Brain, Mental Health, Psychiatry, Space Flight, space, astronaut, mental-health, psychiatry, nutrition, food, microbiome, probiotics

Abstract

The grueling psychological demands of a journey into deep space coupled with ever-increasing distances away from home pose a unique problem: how can we best take advantage of the benefits of fresh foods in a place that has none? Here, we consider the biggest challenges associated with our current spaceflight food system, highlight the importance of supporting optimal brain health on missions into deep space, and discuss evidence about food components that impact brain health. We propose a future food system that leverages the gut microbiota that can be individually tailored to best support the brain and mental health of crews on deep space long-duration missions. Working toward this goal, we will also be making investments in sustainable means to nourish the crew that remains here on spaceship Earth.

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