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Caudwell Xtreme Everest: A prospective study of the effects of environmental hypoxia on cognitive functioning
- Source :
- Griva, K, Stygall, J, Wilson, M H, Martin, D, Levett, D, Mitchell, K, Mythen, M, Montgomery, H E, Grocott, M P, Aref-Adib, G, Edsell, M, Plant, T, Imray, C, Cooke, D, Harrington, J & Khosravi, M & Newman, S P 2017, ' Caudwell Xtreme Everest : A prospective study of the effects of environmental hypoxia on cognitive functioning ', PLoS ONE, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. e0174277 . https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0174277, PLoS ONE, Vol 12, Iss 3, p e0174277 (2017), PLoS ONE
- Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Background: The neuropsychological consequences of exposure to environmental hypobaric hypoxia (EHH) remain unclear. We thus investigated them in a large group of healthy volunteers who trekked to Mount Everest base camp (5,300 m). Methods: A neuropsychological (NP) test battery assessing memory, language, attention, and executive function was administered to 198 participants (age 44.5±13.7 years; 60% male). These were studied at baseline (sea level), 3,500 m (Namche Bazaar), 5,300 m (Everest Base Camp) and on return to 1,300 m (Kathmandu) (attrition rate 23.7%). A comparable control group (n = 25; age 44.5±14.1 years; 60% male) for comparison with trekkers was tested at/or near sea level over an equivalent timeframe so as to account for learning effects associated with repeat testing. The Reliable Change Index (RCI) was used to calculate changes in cognition and neuropsychological function during and after exposure to EHH relative to controls. Results: Overall, attention, verbal ability and executive function declined in those exposed to EHH when the performance of the control group was taken into account (RCI .05 to -.95) with decline persisting at descent. Memory and psychomotor function showed decline at highest ascent only (RCI -.08 to -.56). However, there was inter-individual variability in response: whilst NP performance declined in most, this improved in some trekkers. Cognitive decline was greater amongst older people (r = .42; p < .0001), but was otherwise not consistently associated with socio-demographic, mood, or physiological variables. Conclusions: After correcting for learning effects, attention, verbal abilities and executive functioning declined with exposure to EHH. There was considerable individual variability in the response of brain function to sustained hypoxia with some participants not showing any effects of hypoxia. This might have implications for those facing sustained hypoxia as a result of any disease.
- Subjects :
- Gerontology
Male
050103 clinical psychology
Pulmonology
Social Sciences
lcsh:Medicine
Audiology
Neuropsychological Tests
Executive Function
0302 clinical medicine
Learning and Memory
Cognition
Risk Factors
Medicine and Health Sciences
Psychology
Attention
Prospective Studies
Cognitive decline
Prospective cohort study
lcsh:Science
Hypoxia
Language
Cognitive Impairment
Intelligence Tests
Multidisciplinary
Intelligence quotient
Cognitive Neurology
Altitude
Incidence
05 social sciences
Neuropsychology
Age Factors
Middle Aged
Neurology
Female
Research Article
Adult
medicine.medical_specialty
Psychometrics
Cognitive Neuroscience
03 medical and health sciences
Memory
Medical Hypoxia
medicine
Journal Article
Learning
Humans
0501 psychology and cognitive sciences
Cognitive Dysfunction
Cognitive skill
Neuropsychological Testing
Psychomotor function
business.industry
lcsh:R
Cognitive Psychology
Biology and Life Sciences
Mood
Cognitive Science
lcsh:Q
business
030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Neuroscience
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Griva, K, Stygall, J, Wilson, M H, Martin, D, Levett, D, Mitchell, K, Mythen, M, Montgomery, H E, Grocott, M P, Aref-Adib, G, Edsell, M, Plant, T, Imray, C, Cooke, D, Harrington, J & Khosravi, M & Newman, S P 2017, ' Caudwell Xtreme Everest : A prospective study of the effects of environmental hypoxia on cognitive functioning ', PLoS ONE, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. e0174277 . https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0174277, PLoS ONE, Vol 12, Iss 3, p e0174277 (2017), PLoS ONE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....cacd5c5d08f3b6e17f76e1840986a0b7