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NCT Number: NCT07651917

Effect of Supplemental Oxygen Therapy on Neurocognitive Performance in Healthy Highlanders

Exposure to high altitudes, defined as locations above 2500 m, has been shown to cause cognitive alternations due to reduced blood oxygenation (SpO2). However, it remains to be determined whether cognitive changes are present in highlanders living at moderate altitudes (2500 m) and whether cognitive alterations are reversible with supplemental oxygen therapy (SOT).

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Key information

Conditions

Neurocognition Hypoxia Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 4

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Signed written consent
  • Age >18
  • Kyrgyz ethnicity
  • Born, raised and living at approximately 2500 m
  • Native or fluent in Russian language

Exclusion criteria

  • Severe disease such as unstable hypertension, coronary heart disease, pulmonary diseases, others.
  • Regular use of medication that interfere with sleep or breathing such as benzodiazepines, opioids, acetazolamide
  • Heavy smoking of >20 cigarettes per day
  • Not able to read or adhere to the study protocol

Treatment and study plan

Supplemental oxygen therapy

Drug

5 L/min supplemental oxygen therapy administered through nasal canula.

Sham intervention

Other

5 L/min sham intervention administered through nasal canula.

Primary outcomes

  1. Psychomotor vigilance reaction time

    Time frame: Comparison between SOT and sham after 15 minutes intervention

    The difference in the reaction time during a 10-minute psychomotor vigilance test between SOT and Sham intervention.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Trail making test performance

    Time frame: Comparison between SOT and sham after 15 minutes intervention

    The difference in the trial making test A performance between SOT and Sham intervention.

  2. Stroop test performance

    Time frame: Comparison between SOT and sham after 15 minutes intervention

    The difference in the stroop test performance between SOT and Sham intervention.

  3. Digit Span test performance

    Time frame: Comparison between SOT and sham after 15 minutes intervention

    The difference in the digit span test performance between SOT and Sham intervention.

  4. Go / No-Go test performance

    Time frame: Comparison between SOT and sham after 15 minutes intervention

    The difference in the Go / No-Go test performance between SOT and Sham intervention.

  5. N-back test performance

    Time frame: Comparison between SOT and sham after 15 minutes intervention

    The difference in the n-back test performance between SOT and Sham intervention.

  6. Task Switching Cued test performance

    Time frame: Comparison between SOT and sham after 15 minutes intervention

    The difference in the task switching cued test performance between SOT and Sham intervention.

  7. Flanker test performance

    Time frame: Comparison between SOT and sham after 15 minutes intervention

    The difference in the Flanker test performance between SOT and Sham intervention.

  8. Corsi Span test performance

    Time frame: Comparison between SOT and sham after 15 minutes intervention

    The difference in the Corsi span test performance between SOT and Sham intervention.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Edith M Schneider, Dr.

CONTACT

[email protected]

Michael Furian, Prof. Dr.

CONTACT

[email protected]

+41794037586

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Zurich

Other

Collaborators

  • National Center of Cardiology and Internal Medicine named after academician M.Mirrakhimov

Registry information

Acronym: SPIRIT_1

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jun 16, 2026
Registry last updated
Jun 16, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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