High Altitude Climbing Takes Toll in Brain Cells

The Scientific American begins its story about the high cost, in brain cells, of high altitude mountain climbing with this quote from a mountaineering chat room: "Three attributes of a good mountaineer are a high pain threshold, a bad memory, ….and I forget the third."  It’s a good joke, but it become less funny as the piece cites recent research using MRI scans on 35 climbers (12 professionals and 23
amateurs) who had returned from high-altitude expeditions, including 13
who had attempted Everest. Sciam reports that researchers found brain damage in virtually every
Everest climber, and in many climbers of lesser peaks who returned
unaware that they had injured their brain. Climbers who want to continue climbing should not concerned: They will soon forget the disturbing findings. Others can read more in the Scientific American.