Age is no barrier to success at very high altitudes

Older people are no more susceptible to Acute Mountain Sickness than their younger counterparts, and increasing age is associated with less severe symptoms of AMS. However, rapid ascent and extreme exertion will have a more marked physical effect due to age-related declines in maximum oxygen uptake, in VO^sub 2^ max and in skeletal muscle mass. The reduction in exercise capacity at altitude is predictable based on sea-level performance. Moderate altitude exposure is unsurprisingly associated with hypoxemia and sympathetic activation, although the overall physiological response to hypobaric hypoxia is comparable between younger and older people. Surprisingly, however, there remains a paucity of information about this significant group of high-altitude adventurers. Here, Stokes et al determine whether age is a barrier to success at very high altitudes.