英闻天下——570 Brain Pacemaker Helps Keep Memory for AD Patients

 　　Alzheimer's disease or AD is an illness that seriously affects senior citizens. It causes memory loss, and patients may even gradually lose some of their basic physical abilities. But now researchers in the U.S. are using technology to reduce memory loss in Alzheimer's patients by putting pacemakers in their brains. Li Dong has the details.

 

　　It has the makings of a science-fiction movie: Zap someone's brain with mild jolts¹ of electricity to try to stave off the creeping memory loss of Alzheimer's disease. But it's real life for 57-year-old Kathy Sanford, who has early-stage Alzheimer's that is gradually getting worse.

 

　　She still lives independently, posting reminders² to herself, but can no longer work. At one point, her usual medicines no longer helped.

 

　　She then volunteered for a clinical trial at Ohio State University to implant³ a pacemaker in her brain that would send constant, tiny shocks to the part affected⁴ by Alzheimer's.

 

　　The research is in its infancy⁵. No one knows if it might work, or if it does, how long the effects might last. Surgeons implanted the device, which is very similar to those used to treat heart problems, in Sanford's brain, and a team of researchers has been monitoring her progress since.

 

　　The hope is that the constant electrical stimulation⁶ of brain circuits involved in memory and thinking might keep those neural⁷ networks active for longer, essentially⁸ bypassing some of dementia's damage.

 

　　Dr. Ali Rezai is director of neurosciences programs at Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio.

 

　　"It's believed that because of the plaques⁹ that are causing the Alzheimer's, the brain networks or connections are slowed down or gummed up. Our hope is that we can increase the activity of the brain and bypass this block in the brain."

 

　　Rezai hopes that by essentially waking up areas of the brain slowed down by Alzheimer's and increasing brain activity in general, patients might experience improved memory, attention and cognition.

 

　　The treatment might also slow the progression of the disease. Sanford was the first of 10 patients who were approved to receive implants¹⁰ in this study.

 

　　A few months after the five-hour operation, the hair that was shaved off for her brain surgery is growing back, and Sanford says the only side effect is an occasional tingling¹¹ that she attributes to the electrodes. A battery-powered generator¹² near her collarbone powers them, sending the tiny shocks up her neck and into her brain.

 

　　It's too soon to know how she'll fare. Scientists will monitor her for two years.

 

　　Rezai says the trial marks a new front in the battle against Alzheimer's. Years of research and drug development have so far proved disappointing.

 

　　"Unfortunately, medications have not proven to be very significant. There is no definitive¹³ help for Alzheimer's."

 

　　The "brain pacemaker" is not new to the medical world. The overall approach is called deep brain stimulation or DBS.

 

　　DBS with a pacemaker is standard treatment to calm the tremors¹⁴ of Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders¹⁵.

 

　　More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's or similar forms of dementia, a number that is expected to rise sharply as baby boomers age.

 

　　The current prevalence of Alzheimer's disease in China among people over the age of 60 is 4.2 percent. However, there are no precise statistics about the number of Alzheimer's patients.

 

　　China's aging population means that the treatment and care of senior citizens with Alzheimer's will present a growing problem for families and communities in the future.

1 jolts   

（使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He found that out when he got a few terrific jolts, but he wouldn't give up. 被狠狠地撞回来几次后，他发觉了这一点，但他决不因此罢休。
• Some power bars are loaded with carbohydrates or caffeine for quick jolts. 有些能量条中包含大量的碳水化合物和咖啡因，以达到快速提神的效果。

2 reminders   

n.令人回忆起…的东西( reminder的名词复数 )；提醒…的东西；（告知该做某事的）通知单；提示信

参考例句：

• The film evokes chilling reminders of the war. 这部电影使人们回忆起战争的可怕场景。
• The strike has delayed the mailing of tax reminders. 罢工耽搁了催税单的投寄。

3 implant   

vt.注入，植入，灌输

参考例句：

• A good teacher should implant high ideals in children.好教师应该把高尚理想灌输给孩子们。
• The operation to implant the artificial heart took two hours.人工心脏植入手术花费了两小时。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 infancy   

n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期

参考例句：

• He came to England in his infancy.他幼年时期来到英国。
• Their research is only in its infancy.他们的研究处于初级阶段。

6 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。

7 neural   

adj.神经的，神经系统的

参考例句：

• The neural network can preferably solve the non- linear problem.利用神经网络建模可以较好地解决非线性问题。
• The information transmission in neural system depends on neurotransmitters.信息传递的神经途径有赖于神经递质。

8 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

9 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。

10 implants   

n.（植入身体中的）移植物( implant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Hormone implants are used as growth boosters. 激素植入物被用作生长辅助剂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Perhaps the most far-reaching project is an initiative called Living Implants From Engineering (LIFE). 也许最具深远意义的项目，是刚刚启动的建造活体移植工程 (LIFE)。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 医学的第四次革命

11 tingling   

v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• My ears are tingling [humming; ringing; singing]. 我耳鸣。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• My tongue is tingling. 舌头发麻。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

12 generator   

n.发电机，发生器

参考例句：

• All the while the giant generator poured out its power.巨大的发电机一刻不停地发出电力。
• This is an alternating current generator.这是一台交流发电机。

13 definitive   

adj.确切的，权威性的；最后的，决定性的

参考例句：

• This book is the definitive guide to world cuisine.这本书是世界美食的权威指南。
• No one has come up with a definitive answer as to why this should be so.至于为什么该这样，还没有人给出明确的答复。

14 tremors   

震颤( tremor的名词复数 )； 战栗； 震颤声； 大地的轻微震动

参考例句：

• The story was so terrible that It'sent tremors down my spine. 这故事太可怕，它使我不寒而栗。
• The story was so terrible that it sent tremors down my spine. 这故事太可怕，它使我不寒而栗。

15 disorders   

n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调

参考例句：

• Reports of anorexia and other eating disorders are on the increase. 据报告，厌食症和其他饮食方面的功能紊乱发生率正在不断增长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The announcement led to violent civil disorders. 这项宣布引起剧烈的骚乱。 来自《简明英汉词典》