Jiang Yan, Cai Ke-Er, Zhu Ling-Ling, Fan Ming, Zhao Yong-Qi, Wang Du-Ming
Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China.
Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Brain Behav. 2025 Sep;15(9):e70883. doi: 10.1002/brb3.70883.
This meta-analysis aims to comprehensively evaluate the impact of high-altitude hypoxia on multidimensional cognitive functions, considering moderating variables such as altitude, exposure time, cognitive domain, and experimental design.
A three-level meta-analysis was conducted on 59 studies (1966-2024) comprising 739 effect sizes. Studies were screened and coded according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Cognitive tasks were categorized into seven domains: executive control, working memory, long-term memory, perceptual ability, psychomotor skill, attention, and others. Hedges' g was used as the effect size measure, and multilevel modeling was applied to account for dependent effect sizes.
High-altitude hypoxia significantly impaired overall cognitive function (g = -0.424, p < 0.001). Long-term memory and perceptual functions were most affected, followed by executive control, attention, and psychomotor skills; working memory was least impacted. Cognitive impairment was significant at altitudes above 2500 m. Acute (< 3 days) and chronic (> 30 days) exposure significantly affected cognition, while intermediate exposures (3-30 days) did not. Subgroup analyses revealed varying sensitivity across cognitive domains to altitude and exposure duration.
High-altitude hypoxia adversely affects cognitive function, with severity varying by cognitive domain, altitude, and exposure duration. These findings highlight the need for tailored interventions and further research into acclimatization and de-acclimatization processes.
本荟萃分析旨在综合评估高海拔缺氧对多维认知功能的影响，同时考虑海拔、暴露时间、认知领域和实验设计等调节变量。
对1966年至2024年的59项研究（共739个效应量）进行了三级荟萃分析。根据系统评价和荟萃分析的首选报告项目（PRISMA）指南对研究进行筛选和编码。认知任务分为七个领域：执行控制、工作记忆、长期记忆、感知能力、心理运动技能、注意力和其他。采用Hedges' g作为效应量指标，并应用多水平模型来处理相关的效应量。
高海拔缺氧显著损害整体认知功能（g = -0.424，p < 0.001）。长期记忆和感知功能受影响最大，其次是执行控制、注意力和心理运动技能；工作记忆受影响最小。在海拔2500米以上时认知损害显著。急性（< 3天）和慢性（> 30天）暴露对认知有显著影响，而中等暴露时间（3 - 30天）则没有。亚组分析显示不同认知领域对海拔和暴露持续时间的敏感性不同。
高海拔缺氧对认知功能有不利影响，其严重程度因认知领域、海拔和暴露持续时间而异。这些发现凸显了需要针对性的干预措施以及对适应和脱适应过程进行进一步研究。
