TED演讲:和老年痴呆症说再见(2)

 　　Let's begin by looking at what we currently understand about the neuroscience of Alzheimer's. 让我们先看看目前神经学上对老年痴呆的了解。

　　Here's a picture of two neurons connecting. 这是一张两个神经元连接的图。

　　The point of connection, this space circled in red, is called the synapse¹. 连接的部位，也就是红色圈出的这块，叫做突触。

　　The synapse is where neurotransmitters are released. 突触是神经递质释放的场所，

　　This is where signals are transmitted, where communication happens. 这是信号传送、交流的场所。

　　This is where we think, feel, see, hear, desire ... and remember. 这是我们思考、感受、视听、欲望和记忆的场所。

　　And the synapse is where Alzheimer's happens. 而突触也正是老年痴呆发病的地方。

　　Let's zoom² in on the synapse and look at a cartoon representation of what's going on. 让我们把突触放大，看一则动画演示。

　　During the business of communicating information, in addition to releasing neurotransmitters like glutamate into the synapse, 在信息沟通的过程中，除了释放谷氨酸等神经递质到突触，

　　neurons also release a small peptide called amyloid beta. 神经元还释放了一种名为β淀粉样蛋白的小肽。

　　Normally, amyloid beta is cleared away metabolized by microglia, the janitor³ cells of our brains. 正常情况下，β淀粉样蛋白在新陈代谢时会被清除，由我们大脑的看护细胞小神经胶质细胞处理。

　　While the molecular⁴ causes of Alzheimer's are still debated, 尽管分子层面引发老年痴呆的原因还争论不休，

　　most neuroscientists believe that the disease begins when amyloid beta begins to accumulate. 大多数神经学家相信β淀粉样蛋白的累积引发了老年痴呆。

　　Too much is released, or not enough is cleared away, and the synapse begins to pile up with amyloid beta. 释放了太多，或者是未能完全清理，突触因此便开始堆积β淀粉样蛋白。

　　And when this happens, it binds⁵ to itself, forming sticky aggregates⁶ called amyloid plaques⁷. 若这一事件发生，突触逐渐束缚了自己，产生一种叫做淀粉样斑块的黏糊糊的聚合体。

1 synapse   

n.突触

参考例句：

• The chemical floods the synapse, overwhelming the serotonin receptors.这种化学物质湮没了突触，覆盖了5--羟色胺的受体。
• Ecstasy also keeps serotonin from being reabsorbed,further increasing the concentration in the synapse.毒品引起的狂迷还能阻止5--羟色胺的再吸收，进一步增加了突触内5--羟色胺的浓度。

2 zoom   

n.急速上升；v.突然扩大，急速上升

参考例句：

• The airplane's zoom carried it above the clouds.飞机的陡直上升使它飞到云层之上。
• I live near an airport and the zoom of passing planes can be heard night and day.我住在一个飞机场附近，昼夜都能听到飞机飞过的嗡嗡声。

3 janitor   

n.看门人，管门人

参考例句：

• The janitor wiped on the windows with his rags.看门人用褴褛的衣服擦着窗户。
• The janitor swept the floors and locked up the building every night.那个看门人每天晚上负责打扫大楼的地板和锁门。

4 molecular   

adj.分子的；克分子的

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms.这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。
• For the pressure to become zero, molecular bombardment must cease.当压强趋近于零时，分子的碰撞就停止了。

5 binds   

v.约束( bind的第三人称单数 )；装订；捆绑；（用长布条）缠绕

参考例句：

• Frost binds the soil. 霜使土壤凝结。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Stones and cement binds strongly. 石头和水泥凝固得很牢。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 aggregates   

数( aggregate的名词复数 )； 总计； 骨料； 集料（可成混凝土或修路等用的）

参考例句：

• Snowflakes are loose aggregates of ice crystals. 雪花是冰晶的松散凝结。
• Our airplanes based in Europe should be included in the aggregates. 我们驻欧飞机应包括在总数内。

7 plaques   

（纪念性的）匾牌( plaque的名词复数 )； 纪念匾； 牙斑； 空斑

参考例句：

• Primary plaques were detectable in 16 to 20 hours. 在16到20小时内可查出原发溶斑。
• The gondoliers wore green and white livery and silver plaques on their chests. 船夫们穿着白绿两色的制服，胸前别着银质徽章。