Policlinico di Milano uses space research to study aging

Two research projects led by the Policlinico di Milano have been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to study the mechanisms of aging through the lens of space conditions. Funded by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) with a total of 250,000 euros, these studies are the only two among eight selected by the ESA to involve a hospital.

Coordinated by Professor Nicola Montano, the research focuses on the effects of prolonged bed rest and isolation. One project utilizes a bed rest model where healthy volunteers remain reclined with their heads tilted five degrees downward to mimic microgravity. Researchers aim to use the physiological changes observed in astronauts to develop health protection strategies for elderly and fragile patients in hospital settings.