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

Study Status: Recruiting
Recruit Status: Recruiting
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Effect of High Altitude Exposure, Acclimatization and Re-exposure on Global Cognitive Function

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 Summary: 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.
Sponsor: Marc Poulin

Current Primary Outcome: Change in global cognitive function assessed by neuropsychological test battery [ Time Frame: 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


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • 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 [ Time Frame: 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 [ Time Frame: 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


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: University of Calgary

Dates:
Date Received: April 4, 2016
Date Started: March 2016
Date Completion: December 2017
Last Updated: May 9, 2017
Last Verified: May 2017