Persistent memory impairment after high altitude climbing.
High altitude climbing without supplementary oxygen is a common sporting practice and athletes have been extensively evaluated with respect to possible brain functional impairment during its performance. Little is known on the contrary about long-term effects of hypoxia on the central nervous system. We evaluated, at sea level, a group of 10 high-altitude climbers with a battery of neuropsychological tests before and 75 days after the ascent. Our results suggest the occurrence of an impairment of memory performance after return to sea-level at least in some subjects, while speech and certain practical abilities were unchanged.
Cavaletti
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G
Istituto di Anatomia Umana, University of Milan, Italy.
Garavaglia
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P
Arrigoni
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Tredici
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G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009051:Mountaineering; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors