Universität zu Köln

Soenksen, Sven-Erik, Kuehn, Sven, Basner, Mathias, Gerlach, Darius ORCID: 0000-0001-7044-6065, Hoffmann, Fabian, Muehl, Christian, Tank, Jens, Noble, Hans-Juergen, Akguen, Katja, Ziemssen, Tjalf ORCID: 0000-0001-8799-8202, Jordan, Jens and Limper, Ulrich (2022). Brain structure and neurocognitive function in two professional mountaineers during 35 days of severe normobaric hypoxia. Eur. J. Neurol., 29 (10). S. 3112 - 3117. HOBOKEN: WILEY. ISSN 1468-1331

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Abstract

Background and purpose Animal studies suggest that exposure to severe ambient hypoxia for several days may have beneficial long-term effects on neurodegenerative diseases. Because, the acute risks of exposing human beings to prolonged severe hypoxia on brain structure and function are uncertain, we conducted a pilot study in healthy persons. Methods We included two professional mountaineers (participants A and B) in a 35-day study comprising an acclimatization period and 14 consecutive days with oxygen concentrations between 8% and 8.8%. They underwent cerebral magnetic resonance imaging at seven time points and a cognitive test battery covering a spectrum of cognitive domains at 27 time points. We analysed blood neuron specific enolase and neurofilament light chain levels before, during, and after hypoxia. Results In hypoxia, white matter volumes increased (maximum: A, 4.3% +/- 0.9%; B, 4.5% +/- 1.9%) whilst gray matter volumes (A, -1.5% +/- 0.8%; B, -2.5% +/- 0.9%) and cerebrospinal fluid volumes (A, -2.7% +/- 2.4%; B, -5.9% +/- 8.2%) decreased. Furthermore, the number (A, 11-17; B, 26-126) and volumes (A, 140%; B, 285%) of white matter hyperintensities increased in hypoxia but had returned to baseline after a 3.5-month recovery phase. Diffusion weighted imaging of the white matter indicated cytotoxic edema formation. We did not observe changes in cognitive performance or biochemical brain injury markers. Discussion In highly selected healthy individuals, severe sustained normobaric hypoxia over 2 weeks elicited reversible changes in brain morphology without clinically relevant changes in cognitive function or brain injury markers. The finding may pave the way for future translational studies assessing the therapeutic potential of hypoxia in neurodegenerative diseases.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Soenksen, Sven-Erik UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Kuehn, Sven UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Basner, Mathias UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Gerlach, Darius UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0001-7044-6065 UNSPECIFIED Hoffmann, Fabian UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Muehl, Christian UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Tank, Jens UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Noble, Hans-Juergen UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Akguen, Katja UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Ziemssen, Tjalf UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0001-8799-8202 UNSPECIFIED Jordan, Jens UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Limper, Ulrich UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-688660
DOI:	10.1111/ene.15470
Journal or Publication Title:	Eur. J. Neurol.
Volume:	29
Number:	10
Page Range:	S. 3112 - 3117
Date:	2022
Publisher:	WILEY
Place of Publication:	HOBOKEN
ISSN:	1468-1331
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE; SIMULATED CLIMB; MOUNT EVEREST Multiple languages Clinical Neurology; Neurosciences Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/68866