The Effects of High-Altitude Mountaineering on Cognitive Function in Mountaineers: A Meta-Analysis

Lun Li, Yun Zhou, Shisi Zou and Yongtai Wang ()
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Lun Li: College of Physical Education, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, China
Yun Zhou: College of Physical Education, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, China
Shisi Zou: College of Physical Education, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, China
Yongtai Wang: College of Health Sciences and Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 14623, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 6, 1-12

Abstract: Background: Nowadays, with the convenience of international traveling and driven by many individuals’ fond dreams of challenging high-altitude exercises, high-altitude mountaineering is becoming increasingly popular worldwide. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to determine the effects of high-altitude mountaineering on cognitive functions in mountaineers before and after climbing. Methods: After a thorough electronic literature search and selection, eight studies were included in this meta-analysis, and the conducted test cycles ranged from 8 to 140 days. Eight variables were included in this meta-analysis: the Trail-Making Test (TMB), Digit Span-Forward (DSF), Digit Span-Backward (DSB), Finger Tapping Test-Right (FTR) Finger Tapping Test-Left (FTL), Wechsler Memory Scale Visual (WMSV), the Aphasia Screening Test (Verbal Items) (AST-Ver), and the Aphasia Screening Test (Visual Motor Errors) (AST-Vis). The effect sizes (ES) and forest plots of these eight variables were generated. Results: Five variables (TMB, ES = 0.39; DSF, ES = 0.57; FTR, ES = 0.50; FTL, ES = 0.16; WMSV, ES = 0.63) out of eight were significantly improved after high-altitude mountaineering, whereas the ES values of DSB, AST-Ver, and AST-Vis did not show significant improvement after climbing. Conclusion: Despite two limitations, namely, methodological issues inherent in the meta-analysis and the inability to explain high heterogeneity between studies, this study is the first meta-analysis that has attempted to specify and compare the cognitive functions of mountaineers before and after high-altitude mountaineering. Furthermore, as a short-term plateau exercise, high-altitude mountaineering has no significant negative impacts on the cognitive functions of climbers. Future research is needed for a long period of high-altitude mountaineering.

Keywords: high-altitude; mountaineering; mountaineer; cognitive function; meta-analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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