title: Cognitive performance in high-altitude Andean residents compared with low-altitude populations: from childhood to older age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess cognition in populations born and living at high altitude (HA; 3,700 m) and low altitude (LA; 500 m) in Bolivia, who were similar for both socioeconomic status and genetic ancestry. To determine whether HA hypoxia influences cognitive decline across the life span.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 191 healthy participants aged 4 to 85 years were assessed at HA (N = 94; 33; 35% male) and LA (N = 97; 46, 47% male) on a battery of cognitive tasks: fluid intelligence, attention, short- and long-term memory, and psychomotor speed. Saliva samples were obtained for evaluation of genetic ancestry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HA participants were significantly slower on measures of processing speed and speed of attention than individuals born and living at LA. HA participants had slightly higher percentage of native Andean ancestry than LA participants, but this was not associated with cognitive performance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study of HA residence and neurocognition across the life span. Given the physiological challenges of HA living, the impact on cognition appears to be subtle and related only to the speed of more complex cognitive operations, rather than to their accuracy. Moreover, the impact on cognition does not appear to differ with increasing age or for different degrees of genetic admixture. Further studies recruiting HA participants with a broader range of native Andean ancestry will help to address the issue of to what extent Amerindian ancestry provides neuroprotection to chronic hypoxia in those living at HA.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton.
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Human Development, Institute of Education, University of London.
authors.forename: Dagmara
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dimitriou
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baya
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Cancer Medicine, Western Australian Institute for Medical Research.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.affiliation: Institute of Child Health, University College.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gavlak-Dingle
authors.affiliation: Clinical Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton.
authors.forename: Veline
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lesperance
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Poole General Hospital.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heathcote
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Western Australia.
authors.forename: Romola S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Bucks
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000531:Altitude; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001838:Bolivia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D055815:Young Adult