[Neuropsychological modifications at high altitude: from Pamir to Karakorum].
OBJECTIVE
Neuropsychological modifications and acclimatization processes at over 8000 without auxiliary oxygen were investigated in two climbers, evaluating attentive abilities and matching their performances.


METHODS
During rest in base-camp (4800 m), at other three Resorts - Resort I (5800 m), Resort II (6400 m), Resort III (7200 m) -, and four months after the return at low altitude, were administered: Temporal Orientation Test (TOT), Trail Making Test (TMT), Animal Naming (AN), Verbal Fluency Test (VFT), Arithmetical Judgment Test (AJT), and Drawing Test (DT). Results. At TOT and at AJT, both the climbers demonstrated scores at higher normal levels (Eq = 4) in all the Resorts in which they were performed. They showed an impairment at AN test, especially at Resort III, showing sensitivity of animal naming to hypoxia. At the DT, human figures were reduced in their dimensions and details, as consequence of the tendency to self closure and introversion that occurs at higher altitudes.


CONCLUSIONS
Neuropsychological functions concerning verbal fluency showed sensitivity to hypoxia, especially at higher altitudes. TMT demonstrated that attentive ability can be preserved if acclimatization is good. Sensitivity to hypoxia and acclimatization processes showed a significant subjective variability.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study show that exposure to high altitude produces some significant neuropsychological changes.
Nardi
Bernardo
B
Sezione di Psichiatria, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona. b.nardi@univpm.it
Brandoni
Marco
M
Capecci
Ilaria
I
Castellani
Simona
S
Rupoli
Sara
S
Bellantuono
Cesario
C
D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D001209:Asia, Central; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009051:Mountaineering / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010154:Pakistan