Rimoldi SF, Rexhaj E, Duplain H, Urben S, Billieux J, Allemann Y, Romero C, Ayaviri A, Salinas C, Villena M, Scherrer U, Sartori C. Acute and Chronic Altitude-Induced Cognitive Dysfunction in Children and Adolescents.
J Pediatr 2016;
169:238-43. [PMID:
26541425 DOI:
10.1016/j.jpeds.2015.10.009]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Revised: 08/31/2015] [Accepted: 10/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether exposure to high altitude induces cognitive dysfunction in young healthy European children and adolescents during acute, short-term exposure to an altitude of 3450 m and in an age-matched European population permanently living at this altitude.
STUDY DESIGN
We tested executive function (inhibition, shifting, and working memory), memory (verbal, short-term visuospatial, and verbal episodic memory), and speed processing ability in: (1) 48 healthy nonacclimatized European children and adolescents, 24 hours after arrival at high altitude and 3 months after return to low altitude; (2) 21 matched European subjects permanently living at high altitude; and (3) a matched control group tested twice at low altitude.
RESULTS
Short-term hypoxia significantly impaired all but 2 (visuospatial memory and processing speed) of the neuropsychological abilities that were tested. These impairments were even more severe in the children permanently living at high altitude. Three months after return to low altitude, the neuropsychological performances significantly improved and were comparable with those observed in the control group tested only at low altitude.
CONCLUSIONS
Acute short-term exposure to an altitude at which major tourist destinations are located induces marked executive and memory deficits in healthy children. These deficits are equally marked or more severe in children permanently living at high altitude and are expected to impair their learning abilities.
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