Looking for volunteers who would like to stay in the mountains for free for a month

Researchers want to investigate the health consequences of living at medium altitudes. Despite the lack of payment, the study is generating great interest.

A month into the Bergen spend, free of charge, but in the service of science: with this profile, the Eurac Research research center is looking for volunteers for a new study, reports the Italian daily newspaper “La Republica“. As part of the project, participants will live at an altitude of 2000 to 2500 meters for several weeks.

Little data on life in mid-altitude mountains

The aim is to examine the effects of a longer stay at medium altitudes on the Health to be systematically examined. The experiment will be carried out in the Rifugio Nino Corsi, also known as the Random Hut, in the heart of the Stelvio National Park in South Tyrol. Previous research has focused primarily on extreme altitudes.

This is exactly what this gap wants MAHE project close. One previous study had already suggested that living at high altitude could have positive effects on blood pressure and metabolism. The new study is intended to improve the data situation and thus make it more reliable.

Mountain experiment arouses interest despite high demands

During the four-week stay, numerous health data will be collected, including: Blood pressure, Sleep qualitynutrition and physical activity. Despite everyday study life, the test subjects should go about their normal lives and keep busy with home office, studies or leisure activities.

We are looking for a total of twelve healthy women and men between the ages of 18 and 40 who normally live at sea level. Smokers, competitive athletes and people with previous illnesses are excluded in order to obtain data that is as comparable as possible. Participants receive 400 euros for their time. Within just a few hours of the call being published, over 160 applications were received.

Mountain life 2 — The Nino Corsi mountain hut in the Stelvio National Park, where the study subjects will live for a month. IMAGO / Pond5 Images

How healthy is life in the mountains?

In addition to genetic predisposition and lifestyle, environmental factors can have a major influence on people’s life expectancy, reports the research magazine “Aging and disease“. Life above 1500 meters is primarily influenced by lower air pressure, lack of oxygen and increased UV radiation.

Previous data shows that living at high altitudes is associated with lower mortality Cardiovascular diseasesstrokes and certain types of cancer. At the same time, respiratory diseases are more often fatal. Moderate altitudes seem to be more protective than very high altitudes.