VOA慢速英语2019 研究表明许多人可能不了解自己患痴呆症的风险（在线收听）

New research suggests many older Americans may incorrectly estimate their chances for developing dementia.

Almost half of adults questioned believed they were likely to develop dementia. Signs of the condition include changes in personality and memory loss. Alzheimer's disease is one form of dementia.

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新的研究表明，许多年长的美国人可能会错误地估计他们患痴呆症的机会。

几乎一半接受调查的成年人认为他们很可能会患痴呆症。 该病的迹象包括人格改变和记忆力减退。 阿尔茨海默氏病是痴呆的一种形式。

The research suggests many people did not understand the link between physical health and brain health or how racial differences could affect one's dementia risk.

研究表明，许多人不了解身体健康与大脑健康之间的联系，也不了解种族差异如何影响一个人的痴呆风险。

A report on the study appeared in JAMA Neurology, a publication of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The survey was based on information from the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging. One thousand adults from across the United States completed an online questionnaire in October 2018. All the men and women were 50 to 64 years of age.

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这项研究的报告发表在《美国医学会杂志》的JAMA Neurology中。

该调查基于密歇根大学健康老龄化国家民意调查的信息。 来自美国各地的一千名成年人于2018年10月完成了在线问卷调查。所有男女年龄均在50至64岁之间。

Many subjects who rated their health as fair or poor thought their chances of developing dementia were low. At the same time, many who said they were in excellent health said they were likely to develop the disease.

Many said they tried at least one of four unproven memory-protecting methods, including taking dietary supplements like fish oil and ginkgo. The most popular method for keeping the mind active was doing crossword puzzles.

许多认为自己的健康状况为“好”或“差”的受试者认为他们患痴呆症的机会很低。同时，许多人说自己身体健康，他们很可能患上这种疾病。

许多人说，他们尝试了四种未经证实的记忆保护方法中的至少一种，包括服用鱼油和银杏等膳食补充剂。保持头脑活跃的最流行方法是做填字游戏。

Keith Fargo supervises research and outreach programs at the Alzheimer's Association, a not-for-profit group. He was not involved in the study. Fargo says there is strong evidence that activities more challenging than puzzles can help protect against dementia. He suggested activities such as playing chess, taking a class and reading about subjects not well-known to the reader.

基思·法戈（Keith Fargo）监督非营利组织阿尔茨海默氏症协会的研究和推广计划。他没有参与这项研究。法戈说，有充分的证据表明，比难题更具挑战性的活动可以帮助预防痴呆。他建议开展诸如下棋，上课和阅读一些读者不熟悉的主题之类的活动。

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Research has shown that regular exercise, a healthy diet, limiting alcohol and not smoking make dementia less likely. Supplements have not been shown to help.

Donovan Maust is the study's lead author and a geriatric psychiatrist at the University of Michigan. He said researchers have not done a good job of informing the public that "there really are things you can do to lower" the risk of dementia.

研究表明，定期运动，健康饮食，限制饮酒和不吸烟会使痴呆症的可能性降低。补充剂尚未显示出帮助。

多诺万·马斯特（Donovan Maust）是这项研究的主要作者，也是密歇根大学的老年精神病医生。他说，研究人员并没有很好地告知公众“确实可以采取某些措施来降低”痴呆症的风险。

The online survey asked people to estimate their likelihood of developing dementia. It also asked whether they had ever discussed ways to prevent the condition with their doctor. Few people said they had.

Maust said the survey results raise concerns because doctors can help people control high blood pressure and diabetes – two conditions often linked with dementia risk.

在线调查要求人们估计他们患痴呆症的可能性。它还询问他们是否曾与医生讨论过预防这种疾病的方法。很少有人说他们有。

莫斯特说，调查结果引起了人们的关注，因为医生可以帮助人们控制高血压和糖尿病，这两种情况通常与痴呆症的风险有关。

Among those who said their physical health was only fair or poor, close to 40% thought they were at low risk for Alzheimer's disease or other dementia. Almost the same percentage rated their chances as likely even when they reported being in very good or excellent physical health.

在那些说自己的身体健康状况还不错或很差的人中，将近40％的人认为自己患阿尔茨海默氏病或其他痴呆症的风险较低。几乎相同的百分比将他们的机会评估为可能，即使他们报告的身体状况非常好。

In the survey, more whites than blacks or Hispanics believed they were likely to develop dementia. But only 93 blacks were questioned, making it difficult to generalize for the U.S. population. Across the country, non-whites face higher risks for dementia than whites. The Alzheimer's group operates programs in black and Hispanic communities.

Keith Fargo said, "There's lots of work to do ... to educate the public so they can take some actions to protect themselves."

在调查中，比黑人或西班牙裔人相信白人更有可能发展为痴呆症。但是只有93名黑人受到了质疑，这很难对美国人口一概而论。在全国范围内，非白人比白人面临更高的痴呆风险。老年痴呆症小组在黑人和西班牙裔社区开展活动。

基思·法戈（Keith Fargo）说：“要做很多工作……教育公众，以便他们可以采取一些行动来保护自己。”

The Alzheimer's Association reports that one in three older Americans die with Alzheimer's or other dementias. There are currently no medicines or medical treatments proven to prevent the condition. But some European studies have shown that healthy lifestyles may help prevent mental decline. The Alzheimer's Association is supporting similar research in the U.S.

阿尔茨海默氏症协会报告说，三分之一的美国人死于阿尔茨海默氏症或其他痴呆症。当前没有药物或医学证明可以预防这种疾病。但欧洲的一些研究表明，健康的生活方式可能有助于预防智力下降。老年痴呆症协会正在美国支持类似的研究。