Visual motion hypersensitivity, from spaceflight to Parkinson's disease-as the chiasmatic cistern may be impacted by microgravity together with normal terrestrial gravity-opposition physiology in the brain

The study investigates the intriguing correlation between visual motion hypersensitivity, Parkinson's disease, and spaceflight, revealing potential shared etiological factors. Identified as one of six clinical risk groups displaying visual motion hypersensitivity symptoms, Parkinson's disease prompts an exploration into its unclear etiology. Exposure to the spaceflight environment has been noted to be possibly linked to an elevated incidence of Parkinson's among astronauts, sparking an inquiry into whether space conditions offer insights into visual motion hypersensitivity. Astronauts experience Space Motion Sickness and Space Adaptation Syndrome, akin to hypersensitivity, during gravity-to-microgravity transitions. Short-duration spaceflights exhibit early-onset issues, while long-duration missions lead to Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome, featuring optic disc edema and ocular changes. Magnetic resonance imaging shows post-spaceflight morphological alterations, suggesting altered brain-eye pressure dynamics contribute to hypersensitivity symptoms. The study proposes an association between chiasmatic cistern cerebrospinal fluid pulsatility and normal visual-neural circuitry. Exploring the intricate relationship between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure, gravity, and anatomical changes, the research posits that increased chiasmatic cistern CSF pressure induces hypersensitivity. The authors introduce a gravity-opposition physiology model, elucidating how microgravity-induced brain changes impact the optic chiasm, causing visual abnormalities. Gravity's potential role in shaping visual perception is emphasized, offering a framework for understanding hypersensitivity in spaceflight and Parkinson's. The findings illuminate the complex interplay between microgravity-induced physiological changes and their impact on visual function, providing crucial insights into neurological health implications.