Dear Marta,
maybe you can use the following studies…
Di Paola M1, Bozzali M, Fadda L, Musicco M, Sabatini U, Caltagirone C. Reduced oxygen due to high-altitude exposure relates to atrophy in motor-function brain areas. Eur J Neurol. 2008;15(10):1050-7. http://www.hsantalucia.it/san/Articolo_EJofN.pdf
Petrassi FA, Hodkinson PD, Walters PL, Gaydos SJ. Hypoxic hypoxia at moderate altitudes: review of the state of the science. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2012;83(10):975-84. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232253197_Hypoxic_Hypoxia_at_Moderate_Altitudes_Review_of_the_State_of_the_Science
Ando S, Hatamoto Y, Sudo M, Kiyonaga A, Tanaka H, Higaki Y. The effects of exercise under hypoxia on cognitive function. PLoS One. 2013;8(5):e63630. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3651238/pdf/pone.0063630.pdf
Komiyama T, Sudo M, Higaki Y, Kiyonaga A, Tanaka H, Ando S. Does moderate hypoxia alter working memory and executive function during prolonged exercise? Physiol Behav. 2015;139:290-6. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0031938414005757
Best wishes from germany
Martin
Article Hypoxic Hypoxia at Moderate Altitudes: Review of the State o...
Dear Marta,
My group has just release a review article which addresses your question. It is free to access here:
http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2015.00372/abstract
In short, yes, there are long term deleterious effects. These can be attributed to changes in grey/white matter ratio and blood flow to various brain regions.
In last years there has been a discussion on the intelligence of high altitude inhabitants probably in High Alt Biol Med or J Appl Physiol, but at the moment I cannot not find it neither in Pubmed nor Google Scholar.
I am thankful for your answear Frank John Griego. Nevertheless, quick glance again on my question will help you understand my request - i am asking about altitude hypoxia, not any other type.
There is an ongoing study and research to clarify at http://www.altitudemedicine.org/research/
It is hard to tell if your focus is on those who have lived at high altitude and may have adaptive mechanisms at play or whether you are sorting out the person who has gone to high altitude and returned to their normal landscape (say a traveler or climber) There is abundant data on the latter, less on the former; still not complete. What altitude? Clinical HACE? Your average human to 3000 meters?
If the question is in reference to those who live at high altitude there are some great references from High Altitude Medicine Biology including:
Yan Xiaodan. High Altitude Medicine & Biology. June 2014, 15(2): 141-145. doi:10.1089/ham.2014.1009.
High altitude hypoxia has been shown to have significant impact on cognitive performance. This article reviews the aspects in which, and the conditions under which, decreased cognitive performance has been observed at high altitudes. Neural changes related to high altitude hypoxia are also reviewed with respect to their possible contributions to cognitive impairments. In addition, potential adaptation mechanisms are reviewed among indigenous high altitude residents and long-term immigrant residents, with discussions about methodological concerns related to these studies.
Also:
Cognitive Impairment of School Children at High Altitude: The Case for Oxygen Conditioning in Schools
West John B.. High Altitude Medicine & Biology. September 2016, 17(3): 203-207. doi:10.1089/ham.2016.0026.
And
Dull Brains, Mountaineers, and Mosso: Hypoxic Words from on High
Harvey V. Lankford
High Altitude Medicine & Biology. Dec 2015, Vol. 16, No. 4: 363-370
Finally consider the book High Altitude: Human Adaptation to Hypoxia
edited by Erik R. Swenson, Peter Bärtsch
Great help in this area
Thanks
Marybeth Lambe MD FAAFP