澳大利亚研究员:年过40的人每周工作三天状态最好

 A three-day-week gets the best performance from workers aged¹ over 40, a study has found.

一项研究发现，40岁以上的人如果每周上三天班，工作表现将会达到最佳。

Researchers found the cognitive² performance of middle-aged³ people improved as the working week increased up to 25 hours a week. However, when the week went over 25 hours, overall performance for the test subjects decreased as "fatigue⁴ and stress" took effect.

研究人员发现，当中年人每周工作时间达到25小时的时候，认知表现将有所改善。然而，如果每周工作时间超过25小时，接受测试的人的整体表现则将恶化，因为“疲劳和压力”开始产生影响。

The report, which was published in the Melbourne Institute Worker Paper series, invited 3,000 men and 3,500 women in Australia to complete a series of cognitive tests while their work habits were analysed.

这项研究报告发表在《墨尔本研究院工人报》上，共邀请了澳大利亚的3000名男性和3500名女性来完成一系列认知测试，同时分析他们的工作习惯。

澳大利亚研究员:年过40的人每周工作三天状态最好

It was found those working 25 hours a week performed best while those working 55 hours a week showed results worse than retired⁵ or unemployed⁶ participants.

研究发现，每周工作25小时的人表现最佳，而每周工作55小时的人的测试成绩比那些退休或待业的人还糟。

One of the three authors, Professor Colin McKenzie from Keio University told the Times: "Many countries are going to raise their retirement⁷ ages by delaying the age at which people are eligible⁸ to start receiving pension benefits. This means that more people continue to work in the later stages of their life."

该研究报告的三位作者之一、来自日本庆应义塾大学的科林·麦肯齐教授告诉《泰晤士报》：“许多国家都准备提高退休年龄，让人们延迟领取养老金。这意味着更多人在中晚年还得继续工作。”

"The degree of intellectual stimulation⁹ may depend on working hours. Work can be a double-edged sword, in that it can stimulate¹⁰ brain activity, but at the same time long working hours can cause fatigue and stress, which potentially damage cognitive functions. We point out that differences in working hours are important for maintaining cognitive functioning in middle-aged and elderly adults. This means that, in middle and older age, working part-time could be effective in maintaining cognitive ability." he said.

他说道：“智力被激发的程度，有可能取决于工作的时长。工作是一把双刃剑，既能够刺激大脑活动，同时过长的工作时间也会导致疲劳和压力，并有可能损害认知功能。我们指出了不同工作时长的区别所在，这对于保持中老年人的认知功能具有重要意义。这意味着，在中老年，工作时间不要太满，将会有效地保持认知能力。”

The research comes amid moves to edge the British state pension age closer to 70. Currently for someone born in 1989, a state pension begins at the age of 68.

这项研究的发布，正值英国计划将法定退休年龄提高到将近70岁。根据现行的法规，1989年出生的人要到68岁才能领到养老金。

1 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

2 cognitive   

adj.认知的，认识的，有感知的

参考例句：

• As children grow older,their cognitive processes become sharper.孩子们越长越大，他们的认知过程变得更为敏锐。
• The cognitive psychologist is like the tinker who wants to know how a clock works.认知心理学者倒很像一个需要通晓钟表如何运转的钟表修理匠。

3 middle-aged   

adj.中年的

参考例句：

• I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
• The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。

4 fatigue   

n.疲劳，劳累

参考例句：

• The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.这位老妇人不能忍受长途旅行的疲劳。
• I have got over my weakness and fatigue.我已从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来了。

5 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

6 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

7 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

8 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

9 stimulation   

n.刺激，激励，鼓舞

参考例句：

• The playgroup provides plenty of stimulation for the children.幼儿游戏组给孩子很多启发。
• You don't get any intellectual stimulation in this job.你不能从这份工作中获得任何智力启发。

10 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。