Cancer, Compromised Immune System, Brain Damage: What Diseases Is Sunita Williams Susceptible To
Astronaut Sunita Williams – stuck in space since June 2024 – has been exposed to nine years of radiation in nine months. Experts said this can increase the risk of changes and damage to the DNA, which can cause cancer, and also compromise the immune system.
“This weakened immune response makes individuals more vulnerable to infections,” Dr Sanjith Saseedharan, consultant and head, critical care, SL Raheja Hospital, Mahim-A Fortis Associate. He said such exposure could also lead to reduced cognition, behavioural issues and memory loss with a chance of early dementia.
“Some of the late neurological toxicities can also include partial loss of motor function, dyskinesia, and coma,” he added.
Not immediately, but neurological issues can manifest even after many years of radiation exposure. Dr Rachit Saxena, director and senior consultant of cardiac surgery at Narayana Health, said: “Space radiation damages blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart disease, atherosclerosis, and stroke.”
He said high-energy radiation causes DNA mutations, significantly raising the risk of leukaemia, lung cancer, and other malignancies. “Spacesuits offer partial protection, but radiation in space is constant and cumulative. Unlike the ozone layer, which shields us on Earth, astronauts have no natural barrier,” he added.
Similarly, radiation oncologist Dr Nivedita Sarkar told News18 that radiation, combined with microgravity, significantly weakens the skeletal system. “Williams’ bones would have experienced accelerated calcium loss, leading to osteopaenia or osteoporosis-like conditions. This puts astronauts at a higher risk of fractures upon their return to Earth,” she said.
A senior consultant for nuclear oncology at Amrita Hospital in Faridabad, she pointed out that muscle atrophy is also a concern as radiation can impair regeneration and strength retention over extended missions.
“Exposure to space radiation is known to cause cognitive impairment, neuroinflammation, and DNA damage in brain cells. Prolonged exposure can accelerate memory loss and decision-making deficits, as well as potentially increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s,” she added.
Another oncologist, Dr Pooja Babba from Gurugram-based CK Birla Hospital, said Williams is also vulnerable to “chronic organ dysfunction” due to the extreme oxidative stress she suffered during her stay.
“Radiation impacts the structure and function of the brain, which might result in cognitive deterioration,” she said.
