Fighting Alzheimer’s at Altitude: Scale the Mt. Everest Memory Challenge

Two-time USA Memory Champion Nelson Dellis has begun his final ascent to the top of Mount Everest. Dellis and datacenter technology leader Fusion-io are teaming up to raise awareness of the importance of memory in our minds and datacenters by showcasing Dellis’ Mt. Everest Memory Challenge at www.fusionio.com/memorychallenge.

Dellis is climbing Mt. Everest to raise funds for the battle against Alzheimer’s disease. Four psychologists at Washington University in St. Louis, a leading center for the study of human memory, are studying Dellis’ mental performance throughout his journey up and down the north side of Everest to determine the effect of altitude on his ability to recall information. A video of Dellis demonstrating techniques to memorize lists and a new Memory Challenge quiz are now available online to help everyone improve their memory.

Dellis has already completed two acclimatization ascents from base camp at 17,060 feet to advanced base camp at 20,980 feet and camp 2 at 25,590 feet. This prepares Nelson and his team for the final climb through the “Death Zone” above 26,000 feet and to the top of Mt. Everest at 29,029 feet. To join Dellis and Fusion-io in the Memory Challenge adventure and test your own memory against a mental athlete climbing the world’s tallest peak, please visit www.fusionio.com/memorychallenge.