I got an email from Ma about an experiment done in the Himalaya a couple of decades ago. The attached article is pretty long but Ma sums it up in her email so you’ll get the drift even if you don’t have the inclination to read the medical report! Here it is:
Hello Jae,
Stew’s cousin Eleanor phoned me today, having read of our proposed jaunt. As you know she specialised in nursing people with brain injuries and illness at Frenchay hospital in Bristol. She said she knew of this research into Intracranial Pressure (ICP) that had been done and written up in the attached article. It really is the most bizarre thing! These guys had operations to put ICP monitors put into their heads and then went up mountains to study the effect! Apparently the main guy – Mr Cummins – didn’t think it worth having another op to remove the monitor from his head afterwards and just left it in, and died with it still in. The article says that this research would never be allowed today for ethical reasons. Too right.
To summarise the article, it seems that younger people have tight brains without much space. Old people have a few holes here and there. This means that when a brain swells at high altitude because of lack of oxygen, it is more likely to cause altitude sickness in a young person than in an older one, who is likely to have a few gaps to allow for expansion! I knew there had to be something positive about not being able to remember anything – I have loads of empty space, I reckon. Eleanor was a bit concerned about Oscar’s brain, but I told her that Exodus are really careful, and whip anyone back down the mountain, if they seem to be losing the plot.
I actually laughed while reading the article: one of the highlights includes a replacement of someone’s piles digitally! That’s one reason why it is me, not your father, going up the mountain!!!
Love Ma x
Medical article: AJ 2009 189-198 Cunmmins Intracranial