(up to about 2000 m) were shown to have lower mortality from coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke (-22% and-12% per 1000 m) [1] and an about 50% lower risk of dying from Alzheimer's disease compared with their counterparts living at lower altitudes [2]. In contrast, reported altitude effects on cancer mortality are still conflicting [3]. However, due to shared risk factors, e.g. obesity and...