CARDIOVASCULAR AND CEREBROVASCULAR CONTROL ON RETURN FROM ISS
(CCISS)
Research Area: Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems
Expeditions: 15, 16, 18- 22
Principal Investigator(s): ● Richard Lee Hughson, PhD, University of Waterloo, Waterloo,
Ontario, Canada
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Control on Return from
ISS (CCISS) studies the effects of long-duration spaceflight on
crew members' heart functions and their blood vessels that
supply the brain. Learning more about the cardiovascular
and cerebrovascular systems could lead to specific
countermeasures that might better protect future space
travelers. This experiment is a collaborative effort with the
Canadian Space Agency.EARTH BENEFITS
The risk of fainting and falling is increased in older adults.
Falls are very serious because they often cause a hip
fracture, which is a major cause of prolonged disability and
loss of independence; unfortunately, for a high percentage
of individuals, the complications from the fracture often lead
to disability and possibly death. Gaining better knowledge of
the causes of loss of blood pressure and the warning signs
that might predict risk helps reduce the incidence of fainting
and falls in the elderly.SPACE BENEFITS
Information from this study improves the understanding of
the effects of spaceflight on cardiovascular and
cerebrovascular functions. By gaining increased knowledge
of the specific components of the cardiovascular and
cerebrovascular systems that deviate from the normal Earth baseline responses, it is possible to
recommend specific countermeasures that might better protect future space travelers after
experiencing the effects of gravity on Earth or landing on the moon or Mars.
RESULTS
Early evidence from long-duration spaceflight indicated general cardiovascular fitness
reduction; chronic elevations in arterial blood pressure in the brain; and elevated inspired
carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) compared with normal upright posture on Earth. Recent studies
investigated the spontaneous blood pressure feedback and markers of cardiovascular control,
changes in heart rate (HR), as well as dynamic autoregulation of brain blood flow and CO 2
ISS015E14753 – View of Expedition
15 astronaut and flight engineer
Clayton Anderson working with a
Continuous Blood Pressure Device
(CBPD) and computer during
hardware set-up for the
Cardiovascular and
Cerebrovascular Control on Return
from the International Space Station
(CCISS) experiment in the U.S.
Laboratory/Destiny.