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high altitude mountain climbing may not be the best
11/5/2008
A new study shows high altitude mountain climbing may not be the best thing for your brain.  An Italian study published in the European journal of neurology says that high altitude exposure may cause a subtle loss of brain cells and motor function.  Researchers say climbers showed a small reduction in both grey and white matter in the brain.  The results provide evidence that extremely high altitude climbs with no external oxygen supply may cause subtle changes in brain tissue.  Researchers say the cognitive abilities that were most likely to be affected were the climbers executive function and memory.