Cognitive Impairment of School Children at High Altitude: The Case for Oxygen Conditioning in Schools

Abstract

Abstract

West, John B. Cognitive impairment of school children at high altitude: the case for oxygen conditioning in schools. High Alt Med Biol. 17:203–207, 2016.—The hypoxia of high altitude frequently affects cognitive function. Recent work has shown that high altitude impairs the neuropsychological function of children of school age when compared with a similar control group of children at low altitude. This implies that the learning process is compromised at high altitude. One option is to bus children down to a lower altitude for schooling, but this is generally impracticable. Recently the new technique of oxygen conditioning has been introduced. The procedure is similar to air conditioning except that instead of altering the temperature of the air, the oxygen concentration is increased, thus raising the PO₂ in the inspired air of classrooms. The result is that the children are physiologically at a lower altitude. Just as in very hot or cold climates, it is now unacceptable to have schools that are not air conditioned; in the future the same may apply to schools at high altitude that are not oxygen conditioned.