High Altitude Could Harm Brain, Scientists Say
An Italian study of nine male climbers at Mt. Everest, found a subtle abnormal results on the mountaineers brain tissue, after their expedition. Researchers said the most likely cause was the lack of oxygen at high altitudes, publishing their findings in the European Journal of Neurology.
Before and after the trip, the climbers at the IRCCS Fondazione Santa lucia in Rome, underwent MRI scanning and were also checked for any neurological illnesses. They were then matched against the “controls” of the study who were of their same age and sex
and who had never climbed above 3000 meters.
Findings of the study showed nine climbers reached the summit of at least one 8,000 meter peak, while the remaining others reached altitudes of at least 7,500 meters. Scans of the mountaineers after eight weeks showed a fall in the density and volume of brain tissue in their brain.
Margherita Di Paola, team leader of the study, said that this reduction did not appear to have a direct impact on their neurological performance but might be the result of small, progressive brain damage caused by repeated trips to high altitude summits.
Before and after the trip, the climbers at the IRCCS Fondazione Santa lucia in Rome, underwent MRI scanning and were also checked for any neurological illnesses. They were then matched against the “controls” of the study who were of their same age and sex
and who had never climbed above 3000 meters.
Findings of the study showed nine climbers reached the summit of at least one 8,000 meter peak, while the remaining others reached altitudes of at least 7,500 meters. Scans of the mountaineers after eight weeks showed a fall in the density and volume of brain tissue in their brain.
Margherita Di Paola, team leader of the study, said that this reduction did not appear to have a direct impact on their neurological performance but might be the result of small, progressive brain damage caused by repeated trips to high altitude summits.
