Effect of High Altitude Exposure, Acclimatization and Re-exposure on Sustained Attention in Lowlanders

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Effect of High Altitude
• Interventions: Other: Altitude exposure

• Registration Number: NCT02738307
• Lead Sponsor: Marc Poulin

Brief Summary

Prospective interventional trial in lowlanders evaluating the effect of acute exposure, acclimatization and re-exposure to high altitude on global cognitive function.

Detailed Description

Baseline measurements will be performed in Santiago de Chile, 520 m, over the course of 3 days. Participants will then travel by commercial airline (2 h flight) and by bus (2 h ride) to the ALMA base camp located at 2900 m near San Pedro de Atacama, northern Chile. Participants will stay there for the next 7 nights and they will be spend the days (6 total; 6-8 h daily) at the telescope station at 5050 m while undergoing testing as described above at the first and the last day at 5050m. Daily transports from 2900 to 5050 m will be by car (1 h ride, one way). After the first 7 day altitude sojourn participants will return to the Santiago area (520 m) for a 7 day recovery period. A second altitude sojourn with an identical schedule as the one described above and a final low altitude stay of 3 days will follow.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2016-03-01
• Study First Submitted: 2016-04-04
• Study First Submitted QC: 2016-04-08
• Study First Posted: 2016-04-14
• Primary Completion: 2017-12-31
• Study Completion: 2017-12-31
• Status Verified: 2018-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2018-04-23
• Last Update Posted: 2018-04-25

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 18

Inclusion Criteria

• born, raised and currently living <1300m
• No overnight stays at altitudes >1500m 4 weeks before the study

Exclusion Criteria

• previous altitude intolerance <3000m
• pregnancy
• health impairment, which requires regular treatment

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
altitude exposure	Altitude exposure	Altitude Exposure Acute high altitude exposure followed by 8 day acclimatization and reexposure for 8 days after 6 days at low altitude

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in global cognitive function assessed by neuropsychological test battery	Low altitude sojourn at 520m (Baseline); first sojourn at 5050m Day 2, 7; second sojourn at 5050m Day 2, 7 (each sojourn cycle = 7 days)	Change in global cognition measured across two cycles of altitude exposure, comparing 5050m to 520m

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in cognitive subdomains (visual memory, executive function, working memory and planning, attention, semantic/verbal memory, decision-making and response control) assessed by neuropsychological test battery	Low altitude sojourn at 520m (Baseline); first sojourn at 5050m Day 2, 7; second sojourn at 5050m Day 2, 7 (each sojourn cycle = 7 days)	Change in cognitive subdomains (visual memory, executive function, working memory and planning, attention, semantic/verbal memory, decision-making and response control) measured across two cycles of altitude exposure, comparing 5050m to 520m
Change in oxidative stress measured by venous blood sampling	Low altitude sojourn at 520m (Baseline); first sojourn at 5050m Day 2, 7; second sojourn at 5050m Day 2, 7 (each sojourn cycle = 7 days)	Change in oxidative stress measured before and after high altitude exposure

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Calgary; 🇨🇦 Calgary, Alberta, Canada